Archived Items about COVID-19, the Novel Coronavirus

Archived News

KDHE

• 5-29-2020 | Healthcare-Associated Infections & Antimicrobial Resistance Program
• 5-29-2020 | According to the KDHE COVID-19 Outbreak System, there have been 30 outbreaks associated with Long Term Care Facilities for a total of 685 cases and 107 deaths. There are 16 open outbreaks currently with a total of 378 cases and 42 deaths. That's a total of 149 deaths between the active and closed outbreaks. Long term care facilities are inclusive of skilled, state licensed, etc. 
• Here are the latest cases of COVID-19 in Kansas. These numbers represent ONLY individuals that have had a positive COVID-19 test.| Map of COVID-19 in KS.
• 4-28-2020 | KDHE releases Long-term Care Facility COVID-19 Readiness Self-Assessment Checklist: Visitor and Non-Essential Personnel Restriction.
  
• 4-24-2020 | KDHE - Handling Outbreaks of COVID-19 in Long-term Care Facilities (LTCF) and Other Residential Facilities.
• 4-22-2020 | KDADS extends the suspension of the Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) process for an additional 30 days.
• Report Suspected Cases to 24/7 KDHE Epidemiology Hotline 1-877-427-7317.
• Make sure you are connected to your local health care coalition.
• 3-28-2020 Governor Kelly Issues Temporary, Statewide Stay Home Order 
• 3-26-2020 Kansas Initial 1135 Waiver Request Granted
• 2-24-2020 Kansas WIC Program Available Without Physical Presence
• 3-23-2020 KDHE updates the public on testing prioritization; issues new quarantine notices
• 3-22-2020 Guidance for Supporting Families in Accessing Healthy and Safe Child Care During the COVID-19 Outbreak
• 3-17-2020 The KDHE Medicaid Eligibility Clearinghouse Institutes COVID-19 Measures in light of COVID-19 Crisis 
• KDHE COVID-19 Resource Center 
• 3-19-2020 KDHE issues new mandates for quarantine and isolation of travelers, close contacts and those being tested
• 3-18-2020 According to State Medicaid Director Adam Profit, the MCOs have been told to immediately and temporarily suspend all face-to-face visits with both providers and members. The MCOs are to make every attempt to substitute an in person visit with a telephonic visit, and will work to reschedule the in person visit as soon as is feasible.
• 3-12-2020 KDHE press release on three new COVID-19 Cases in Kansas
• Contact Information For all Local Health Departments
• Suspected COVID-19 Process

LTC Ombudsman

• 3-14-2020 KS LTC Ombudsman suspends live visits

Fire Marshal

• 4-16-2020 | KSFM Guidance on Executive Order 20-23 for Adult Care Homes.
• 4-7-2020 | Fire Marshal announces virtual surveys for assisted living and other state-licensed facilities.
• 3-13-2020 Office of The State Fire Marshal, COVID-19 and Access-Controlled Egress Doors

Governor's Office

• 5-19-2020 | Governor Announces “SPARK” Task Force
• 4-30-2020 | Governor Laura Kelly introduces plan to safely, gradually re-open Kansas, get state back to work.
• 4-22-2020 | EO-20-26 Temporary relief from certain restrictions and requirements governing the provision of medical services.
• 4-9-2020 | Governor Kelly Signs Executive Order Extending Professional and Occupational Licenses During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
• 3-18-2020 Governor Kelly announces Executive Order to temporarily prohibit evictions and foreclosures
• 3-17-2020 Governor Laura Kelly has issued two new Executive Orders to limit size of mass gatherings (EO 20-40) and temporarily suspend utility and internet disconnects (EO 20-50) 
• 3-17-2020 Gov. Kelly closes schools for rest of school year and sends state workers home starting March 23rd. (Awaiting more details about how the state worker order will impact functions/personnel a KDADS.)
• 3-12-2020 Gov. Kelly Declares State of Emergency
• Governor Kelly's March 4, 2020 Press Release

KDADS 

• 5-26-2020 | COVID 19-CARE Guidance.
• 5-19-2020 | Guidance for Training Programs for Certified Nurse Aides/Certified Medication Aides-Clinical Portion
• 5-18-2020 | KDADS plans to rebase 2021 Medicaid Nursing Facility rates (effective July 1, 2020) to 2017-2019 with inflation through April 30, 2019. Preliminary rates will be published in the May 21, 2020 Kansas Register.
• 5-18-2020 | KDADS surveyors have contacted every home plus to: 1) inquire if they have any COVID-19 positive cases, 2) request their infection control policies related to COVID-19 (to ensure they actually have a policy), 3) to ask if they have adequate PPE, 4) provide information and CDC guidance/KDHE information as needed, and 5) offer support. Assisted Living survey teams are requesting that providers provide them with their infection control policies. Questions?  Email Regina Patterson [email protected] or phone her at (785) 296-1269.
• 5-6-2020 | Technology Initiative in Response to COVID-19
• 4-28-2020 | Reporting Guidance for Nursing and Long-Term Care Facilities Concerning 2019 Novel Coronavirus Illness
• Watch this Video Message from Secretary Howard to Healthcare Workers
• 4-17-2020 | COVID-19 Temporary Nurse Aide Training Program
• 4-17-2020 | 2019 Novel Coronavirus Illness (COVID-19) Executive Order 20-23 Guidance
• 3-31-2020 | Revised Guidance for Kansas HCBS Waiver Programs for Brain Injuries
• 3-24-2020 | Guidance for Training Programs for Certified Nurse Aides
• 3-20-2020 CARE/PASSR Guidelines 
• 3-20-2020 KDADS Stakeholder Update
• 3-19-2020 KDADS Nursing Facility Stakeholder COVID-19 Update Recorded Webinar from March 13, 2020
• 3-16-2020 Latest Press Release: New Federal Guidelines Increase Restrictions for Visitors to Nursing Homes; KDADS working quickly to ensure Kansas facilities following enhanced CMS guidelines
• 3-16-2020 KDADS Guidance to HCBS Providers on Preventing the Spread of COVID-19

KSBN

• Nurse License Renewal-Important Update. Executive Order No 20-39 that extends the expiration date of nursing licenses will expire on 6/30/2020. Nurses who have licenses that were to expire in March, April, May and June 2020 must have their licenses renewed by September 28, 2020. Those licenses will lapse if not renewed by that date. The mandatory continuing education requirement must be met at the time of renewal.

Department of Children and Families

• 4-20-2020 | DCF Heroes Relief Program - If you are an essential worker who requires child care, Kansas is offering financial assistance to help your family during the pandemic.

Department of Labor

• 4-21-2020 | Governor addresses workers compensation for front-line responders.

Federal Information

CMS

• 6-11-2020 | CMS Press Release Warning Nursing Homes Not to Seize Resident Stimulus Checks.
• 6-10-2020 |  CMS’s June 10 Hospice FAQs.
• 6-9-2020 | Alert: Check Your CASPER Reports for Any Enforcement Letters Around COVID-19 Reporting. We have heard a report from one nursing home in the state who has been having problems reporting in the CDC system. They did not receive any enforcement letters from CMS for “failure to report” but by chance a corporate nurse found the letters in CASPER. We are suggesting all homes double-check in case this is a systemic problem.
• 6-9-2020 | CMS Releases Infection Control and COVID-19 Data 
• 6-9-2020 |  HHS Announces New Medicaid/CHIP Distribution
• 6-1-2020 | CMS Announces Enhanced Survey Activity and Enforcement Remedies Related to Infection Control
• 5-22-2020 | HHS Announces June 3 Provider Relief Deadline and New SNF Funds on the Way 
• 5-19-2020 | CMS Outlines Key Activities of Nursing Home Reopening 
• 5-18-2020 | CMS Releases Phased Reopening Guidance for Nursing Homes
• 5-5-2020 | Updated Medicaid FAQs.
• 5-4-2020 | CMS Releases Rule Including New Nursing Home Reporting Requirements.
• 4-29-2020 | CMS Adds New Coverage Requirements to MA Plans Under COVID-19.
• 4-28-2020 | CMS Freezes Health Inspection Rating; Issues FAQs.
• 4-28-2020 | CMS Suspends Accelerated and Advanced Payment Programs.
• 4-21-2020 | CMS New Reporting Requirements.
• 4-14-2020 | CMS PACE information.
• 4-6-2020 | Management of laundry, food service utensils, and medical waste should also be performed in accordance with routine procedures.
• 4-2-2020 | COVID-19 Long-Term Care Facility Guidance.
• 4-1-2020 | CMS Approves KS Waiver Request for Home and Community Based Services and Emergency Preparedness and Response from Section K. View the Letter. View the Combined Waiver.
• 3-29-2020 | Filing Deadline Extended for Cost Reports for Fiscal Year End (FYE) December 31, 2019.
• 3-28-2020 CMS Announces Accelerated/Advance Payments for Medicare Providers
• 3-28-2020 Long-Term Care Nursing Homes Telehealth and Telemedicine Toolkit
• 3-27-2020 CMS Waiver Request by Kansas Long Term Care and Hospital Associations
• 3-27-2020 CMS Infection Control Survey Tool and Checklist
• 3-24-2020 CMS updated guidance on health care worker and visitor entry
• 3-23-2020 CMS Announces New Inspection Policies
• Revised CMS Guidance for Long-Term Care Facilities (Ban on non-essential visitors, communal dining and group activities)
• 3-17-2020 CMS Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Update and Information for Long-term Care Facilities. View slides or watch archived webinar.
• 3-17-2020 CMS Expands Telehealth Benefits During COVID-19 Outbreak
• 3-16-20 Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) Response to the Public Health Emergency on the Coronavirus (COVID-19). More coming soon.
• 3/12/2020 Summary of LeadingAge National Q&A Call with CMS
• Immediate changes to Survey Priorities in light of COVID-19 announced by CMS on March 4, 2020 
• The CMS Press Release
• Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention Concerning Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): FAQs and Considerations for Patient Triage, Placement and Hospital Discharge
• Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in nursing homes
• CMS COVID-19 Newsroom 
• 3-9-2020 CMS Guidance for Hospice Providers
• 1-31-2020 Secretary Azar Declares Public Health Emergency for United States for 2019 Novel Coronavirus
• Guidance for use of Certain Industrial Respirators by Health Care Personnel, 3-10-2020

CDC

• 5-8-2020 | CDC Adds New Symptoms to Coronavirus
• 5-5-2020 | Return to Work Criteria-Updated.
• 5-5-2020 | Discontinuation of Transmission-Based Precautions and Disposition of Patients with COVID-19 in Healthcare Settings (Interim Guidance)
• 5-4-2020 | CDC Webinar Training for LTCF COVID-19 Module.
• 4-30-2020 | CDC Has Released the LTC Facility Component of the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) for COVID-19 Reporting.
• 4-24-2020 | CDC Clarifies Elements of Forthcoming (Not Effective Now) Nursing Home Reporting Requirements.
• 4-20-2020 | Considerations When Preparing for COVID-19 in Assisted Living Facilities. 
• Implementing Safety Practices for Critical Infrastructure Workers Who May Have Had Exposure to a Person with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19.
• Preparing for COVID-19: Long-term Care Facilities, Nursing Homes.
• Use of Cloth Face Coverings to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19.
• 4-1-2020 | Webinar: Preparing Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities for COVID-19.
• Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Worksite - Non Clinical Information.
• 3-2020 | Asymptomatic and Presymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infections in Residents of a Long-Term Care Skilled Nursing Facility — King County, Washington, March 2020.
• CDC has a clearinghouse for all information related to COVID-19. Check daily for updates and information.
• 3-22-2020 Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in Retirement Communities and Independent Living Facilities (Interim Guidance)
• 3-19-2020 CDC Guidelines for Optimizing Supply of PPE
• 3-18-2020 CDC Hosted a Webinar at Noon Central Time Today Answering 20 Questions about COVID-19. Watch the recording on Facebook through the CDC Emergency Preparedness and Response Facebook page.
• 3-18-2020 Criteria for Return to Work for Healthcare Personnel with Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19 (Interim Guidance)
• Handwashing resources 
• World Health Organization: Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines
• CDC-Steps for healthcare facilities to take to prepare for COVID-19 
• CDC Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations
• CDC Strategies to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 in Long Term Care Facilities
• CDC’s You Tube Channel
• ICD-10-CM Official Coding Guidelines – Supplement Coding encounters related to COVID-19 Coronavirus Outbreak Effective: February 20, 2020
• Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Healthcare Settings

HUD

• 5-20-2020 | One-Stop Federal Site on Eviction and Mortgage Protections

FEMA

• 4-23-2020 | FEMA FACT SHEET: COVID-19 Pandemic: Personal Protective Equipment Preservation Best Practices

OSHA

• 5-21-2020 |  OSHA Issued New Interim Enforcement Response Plan and Guidance (COVID-19)
• 5-4-2020 | OSHA Interim Enforcement Response Plan for Coronavirus Disease 2019. 
• OSHA Video Highlighting the Difference Between a Respirator and a Surgical mask.

Small Business Administration

• 6-18-2020 | Simplified PPP Loan Forgiveness Application Announced.
• 6-18-2020 | SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans Reopen.

GAO

• 5-21-2020 |The Government Accountability Office (GAO) responded to inquiries from U.S. Senator Ron Wyden with a letter entitled “Infection Control Deficiencies Were Widespread and Persistent in Nursing Homes Prior to COVID-19 Pandemic”.

WHO

• WHO’s Coronavirus/COVID-19 webpage.

American Heart Association

• March 31, 2020 | UPDATED: Interim Guidance on Card Extensions during COVID-19 Outbreak

LeadingAge Kansas News, Tools and Updates

• 7-17-2020 | Advocating for Statewide ACH COVID-19 Funding.
• 6-22-2020 | PPE Needs Survey: Here’s a snapshot of the results of our recent PPE Survey. 
• 5-14-2020 | What we know about the Provider Relief Fund, Fund Distribution, and Requirements, Provider Attestation and “Settling Up”.
• 5-4-2020 | Summary of Executive Order No. 20-26: Providing temporary relief from certain restrictions and requirements governing the provision of medical services.
• 4-30-2020 | LeadingAge Kansas Calls KDHE on Misleading Memo to Long-Term Care Providers
• 4-22-2020 | Long-Term Care Provider Associations Issue Joint Release: Heroic efforts made by providers to protect our most vulnerable citizens during pandemic. Where is their support?
• 4-22-2020 | At-a-Glance Summary of State Waivers for Kansas Adult Care Homes.
• 4-9-2020 | Long-Term Care Provider Associations Submit Letter to Governor on Hospital Discharges and Admissions to Nursing Homes During the COVID-19 Emergency.
• 4-2-2020 | This letter outlines the updated requests the associations have made to Governor Kelly. 
• 3-30-2020 | Long Term Care State Waiver Request: A Joint Association Letter from LeadingAge Kansas, KHCA & KACE.
• Resource: Outdoor Time Ideas/Inspiration for Residents.
• Tool: LTC Reporting Requirements Crosswalk as of 5-12-2020.
• Updated (5-12-2020) Tool: COVID-19 101 for Nursing Homes.
• Resource: COVID-19 Grants, Loans & Advance Funding Opportunities for Not-For-Profit Providers.