We are seeing an uptick in COVID cases, both in facilities and among the general public, this fall. It's important that providers have measures in place...
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The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Testing Collection and Coordination Team (TCC) is hosting office hours for long-term care facilities the first...
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The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) continues to provide free qualitative fit testing apparatus kits along with Michigan Occupational Safety and Health...
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Do you have expired COVID test kits? If so, use this tool to make certain the test kits cannot be used. Look for the list of expiration dates...
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Today, April 19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) amended the emergency use authorizations (EUAs) of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 bivalent mRNA vaccines to simplify the...
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As you know, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is planning for the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19, declared under Section...
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The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) reminds long-term care facilities that open enrollment for recurring testing supply allocation ends Friday, March 10,...
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The Public Health Emergency (PHE) will end May 11, 2023. This means that many of the flexibilities put in place to respond to the COVID-19...
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a new fact sheet, CMS Waivers, Flexibilities, and the Transition Forward from the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, as...
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The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) released an updated version of the Excel Data Tracking Worksheet for facilities reporting COVID-19 vaccination data on health care personnel through...
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Last week, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) shared a briefing about the COVID Public Health Emergency (PHE) and upcoming transition plans. A recorded...
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The CDC released two scientific reports evaluating the effectiveness of the bivalent booster in nursing facility residents. The first study examined new COVID-19 cases each week, from...
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The Infection Prevention Resource and Assessment Team (IPRAT) is excited to share a new interactive COVID Care Recovery Center and COVID Relief Facility map. To view...
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On January 30, 2023, President Biden announced his intent to end the Public Health Emergency (PHE) on May 11, 2023. This means that many of...
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A recent study highlights the success and importance of the omicron-adapted COVID boosters in protecting individuals from serious illness and death. The study was completed this...
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U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra renewed the declaration that a public health emergency (PHE) exists. This is effective today, January 11, 2023,...
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Source Control Versus PPE: During the December Long Term Care Facility COVID Response Call, the Michigan Infection Prevention Resource and Assessment Team (IPRAT) shared guidance on...
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Reporting your facility's current COVID-19 vaccination status to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) is important. For NHSN reporting for the September 26, 2022 to December 25,...
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AHCA/NCAL developed a new #GetVaccinated handout to help long term care staff discuss the value of the bivalent booster with residents. This was designed in response to...
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The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) issued a reminder of the current Epidemic Orders in place to mitigate outbreaks in long-term care...
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The Biden Administration announced on November 22 a 6-week campaign to improve COVID-19 booster uptake rates. The campaign will focus on reaching seniors and other communities hardest...
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Project Firstline program released infection control educational materials and resources for Spanish-speaking frontline healthcare workers. Project Firstline...
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The Biden Administration indicated it will renew the current COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) which was declared on October 13, 2022. It is set to expire on...
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With the recent updates to the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS) Epidemic Orders, including the October 4, 2022 - Amendment to Order under...
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The archived recording of the recent CDC/CMS COVID-19 Guidance presentation is now available to view. Log in using your username and password. Once the page...
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Michigan's Surveillance for Healthcare-Associated & Resistant Pathogens Unit along with the Infection Prevention Resource and Assessment Team are co-hosting an Infection Prevention Symposium. The three-hour,...
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The Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS) and the Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs (LARA) issued the following guidance regarding the new...
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An October 4, 2022, amendment (October 4, 2022 - Amendment to Order under MCL 333.2253 Requirements for Residential Care Facilities) aligns Michigan Department of Health...
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued QSO-22-25-CLIA on September 26, 2022, to share updated guidance on using Point of Care (POC) antigen COVID-19...
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The association was notified late yesterday that the Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs (LARA) DENIED our request for a state-wide temporary nurse aide (TNA)...
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The pandemic permanently changed the work environment and employee expectations. Natural infections like those caused by measles, polio, and smallpox produce lifetime protection. However, COVID-19...
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated guidance regarding the definition of “Up To Date” as it applies to COVID-19 vaccinations. These changes have created...
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Changes are coming to the surveillance definition of “Up to Date” in National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) reporting at the end of this month. Be advised...
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A message from AHCA President Mark Parkinson: I shared that I’ve heard from countless members that the continued PPE and other related requirements for our...
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Earlier this summer, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an update to QSO-22-15-NH & NLTC & LSC: Update to COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers...
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On Thursday, September 1, 2022 the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), with approval from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recommended the...
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With the end of the PHE in sight, MDHHS would like to welcome providers to upcoming virtual sessions to learn about the proposed post-PHE telemedicine policies and how to comment or share input on proposed policies.
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With the removal of QSO-22-10- ALL, surveyor vaccination for performing onsite surveys is no longer a federal requirement but will be managed by each state.
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AHCA/NCAL has developed resources to assist with promoting vaccination at
getvaccinated.us.
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Facilities that fail to comply with the activities requested to ensure the accuracy of their data will be acknowledged on the public facing MDHHS Coronavirus LTCF Data webpage.
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The 3-Day Stay Waiver and Medicare Spell of Illness Waiver both remain active and play an important role in managing resident care.
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Audit activities must be complete by June 24, 2022.
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The CDC recently updated guidance regarding vaccination status that will impact testing, new admission quarantine, and work restrictions for health care workers testing positive or with exposure to COVID.
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MDHHS will be hosting Noontime Knowledge Thursday, June 2.
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MDHHS will launch it’s annual facility-led review of COVID-19 surveillance data submitted via NHSN and EMResource for data accuracy on June 6, 2022.
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With the end of the PHE in sight, MDHHS would like to welcome providers and community partners to upcoming virtual sessions.
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The recording is available for the Thursday, April 21, “Noontime Knowledge” COVID-19 Vaccine webinar.
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CDC issued a
HAN Health Advisory to update healthcare providers, public health departments, and the public about the availability and use of recommended therapies for COVID-19.
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For questions related to COVID-19 testing supplies please contact
[email protected].
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MDHHS, Division of Immunization, will be hosting Noontime Knowledge Thursday April 21 at 12 p.m.
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The PHE is currently scheduled to end April 16, 2022.
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CMS released revised interpretive guidance for the COVID-19 vaccine mandate IFR.
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Dr. Jones with the CDC provided follow up documentation to questions posted to her during the HCAM/MCAL Spring Leadership Conference.
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The CDC announced it is updating its recommendations to include the second booster dose.
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The federal government has launched two new initiatives, “Test to Treat” and “Long-Term Care Pharmacy Program,” to create an allocation of oral antiviral medications for utilization in vulnerable populations.
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Four more free at-home tests COVID-19 tests are now available to be shipped to your home.
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On Monday, March 7, 2022 OSHA released a
memo outlining plans to initiate focused infection control surveys in hospital and skill nursing facility settings caring for COVID patients.
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This letter serves to provide additional information on the updated clinical guidance related to boosters, immunocompromised, monoclonal antibody treatments and vaccination, and healthcare staff requirements.
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LARA does not expect that facilities of any type would have documentation of vaccination status of EMS agencies that do not provide scheduled or contracted services.
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The CDC posted recent updates to its COVID guidance specific to nursing facilities.
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The MDHHS COVID-19 Testing Collection and Coordination Team is more committed than ever to providing the best and most equitable service to the state’s most vulnerable communities.
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CMS issued
QSO-22-10-ALL Vaccination Expectations For Surveyors Performing Federal Oversight on January 25.
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Although the CMS vaccine mandate impacts all providers participating in Medicare & Medicaid, it is not applicable to the Ombudsman’s program.
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The House Oversight Committee is holding a hearing on Thursday, January 20 on the recently released report on COVID-19 deaths in long-term care facilities from the Michigan Office of the Auditor General.
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As staffing shortages continue across the healthcare continuum, be advised that requests for non-emergency ambulance transfers may be delayed for several hours, or declined when emergency runs take precedence.
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Reach out to contracted service providers to confirm how vaccine verification will be handled.
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The CDC updated their health care provider exposure guidance to enhance protection for healthcare personnel (HCP), patients, and visitors, and to address concerns about potential impacts on the healthcare system given a surge of SARS-CoV-2 infections.
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CMS recently
released guidance enforcing its Interim Final Rule issued mandating the vaccine in health care settings in specific states.
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AHCA has two webinar recordings available you may find helpful as you navigate exemptions and work to understand the how the current injunction affects operations.
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MDHHS released
guidance intended to ensure equitable access to COVID prevention and treatment strategies for individuals with decision-making challenges.
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