COHFI Maintenance Window Change

 

To: All Providers   From: Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division   Starting today we are shifting our regularly scheduled maintenance window from Wednesdays at 5 pm through 7 pm to Wednesdays at 3 pm through 5 pm. COHFI will be unavailable starting at 3 pm and services will be unavailable during the maintenance window.

Public Notice--Stakeholder Meeting, August 4, 2021 6 CCR 1011-1, Chapter 8-Facilities for Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

 

To: All Stakeholders Interested in the Revision of Chapter 8 Rules. From: HFEMSD You are invited to participate in the stakeholder meeting to review and update 6 CCR 1011-1, Chapter 8- Facilities for Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. This is the FINAL meeting of a planned year-long process to update these rules, many of which are almost a decade old. Your participation is welcomed and appreciated. Meetings are open to the public. When: August 4, 2021, from 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. Where: This meeting will be held remotely via Zoom Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89833277798?pwd=M2l0ZnY1TnhabEdvNXdsK2lQZExYQT09 Meeting ID: 898 3327 7798 Passcode: 661196 Use computer audio or call: 1- 408-638-0968 To view the Chapter 8 meeting agenda and documents please click on the following link. This should take you to a folder for the August 2021 meeting. The agenda and meeting documents will be posted a week prior to the meeting. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1q4udsypMUay-ZlSAnAXwh-14kzQndOFc?usp=sharing To sign up to receive email communications regarding IDD rule revision, go to: https://forms.gle/dUFwzcrf4VQFcbBG6 To review current Chapter 8 rules, click on the following link and then click on the link to “Chapter 8”: https://www.sos.state.co.us/CCR/GenerateRulePdf.do?ruleVersionId=8837&fileName=6%20CCR%201011-1%20Chapter%2008 If you have any questions or comments prior to the meeting, feel free to contact Francile Beights at francile.beights@state.co.us or Grace Sandeno at grace.sandeno@state.co.us

LTC (NF) IDR Committee Meeting

 

To: LTC (NF) providers   From: HFEMSD   The LTC (NF) IDR Committee will meet on August 3, 2021. This will be a virtual meeting. The meeting will begin at 1:30 p.m. The public is welcome to listen to the committee discussion. To access the meeting:   Join with google meet: meet.google.com/igt-atyw-psr or Join by phone:   (US) +1 225-306-8328 PIN: ‪417 052 638#     Elaine Sabyan

Chapter 26 Home Care Agency Rule Revision – August 3, 2021 meeting information

 

To: All Stakeholders From: HFEMSD In keeping with the statutory requirement to routinely review and update our regulations, the Department is conducting a stakeholder process for the regulatory review of 6 CCR 1011-1, Chapter 26 - Home Care Agencies (access the chapter at this link). This month's meeting topics include a review of license fees, changes made since last month’s meeting in proposed Part 7 (Non-Medical/Personal Care), and an initial review of the rest of proposed Part 7 (Non-Medical/Personal Care). Meetings are open to the public. This meeting will be held remotely via Zoom only. Please note: For the final two meetings in August and September, we will hold a three-hour meeting to ensure we complete our rule review. When: Tuesday, August 3, 2021 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Remote access through Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87301044349) Audio line: 1-669-900-6833 Meeting ID: 873 0104 4349 The stakeholder meeting schedule, agenda, documents, and detailed information regarding the rule revision process can be accessed at this link. We recommend that you return to this site on the day of the meeting to check for additional or revised meeting materials. To sign up to receive email communications regarding the Chapter 26 rules review, fill out this form.  If you have any questions regarding the rule rewrite prior to the meeting, feel free to contact Monica Billig at monica.billig@state.co.us or Anne Strawbridge at anne.strawbridge@state.co.us. For general Home Care Advisory Committee questions contact Cheryl McMahon at cheryl.mcmahon@state.co.us or Steve Cox at steve.cox@state.co.us. If you have never used Zoom before: Prior to the meeting, you will need to install Zoom. Please allow time to do so beforehand. If you plan to join by phone please be aware that some functions are unavailable. It is usually best to use a computer. Below are instructions for joining a Zoom meeting: How-to join a Zoom meeting by computer How-to join a Zoom meeting by phone

Enhanced Infection Mitigation Testing Requirements-- What you need to know

 

To: Residential care facilities (nursing homes, assisted living facilities, group homes, and intermediate care facilities)   From: CDPHE Residential Care Strike Team and  Infection Prevention and Control Unit   On July 23, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) released an updated version of the residential care facility mitigation guidance. This guidance requires all residential care facilities to perform rapid surveillance testing of unvaccinated staff at the beginning of each shift. Facilities located in counties that previously qualified for enhanced infection prevention guidelines have already begun this testing process.   To begin this testing process, please review the key information below:   All staff who are not fully vaccinated must perform rapid self-testing at the beginning of each shift. The test does not need to be completed before entering the building or before the shift starts, but it should be done as soon as possible. Contact with other individuals, both residents and staff, should be minimized until test results have been received. Based on unvaccinated staff numbers reported into EMResource, facilities will be automatically shipped BinaxNOW rapid testing supplies over the next two weeks. Any facility that does not receive supplies by Friday, August 6 should reach out to Alexis Foor by email at alexis.foor@state.co.us. Facilities with no unvaccinated staff will not receive testing supplies at this time. All facilities are required to have a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) waiver to perform this testing. Facilities that do not currently have one should apply for a CLIA waiver as soon as possible. Please do not wait for your tests to apply for the waiver.   CDPHE will host six webinars over the next three weeks to provide more detailed information about CLIA applications, rapid testing instructions, and how to report results. Click here for the call information. The dates are below. Wednesday, July 28 • 2-3 p.m. Thursday, July 29 • 10-11 a.m. Wednesday, August 4 • 2-3 pm Friday, August 6 • 10-11 a.m. Wednesday, August 11 • 1-2 p.m. Thursday, August 12 • 10-11 a.m.   For more general testing information, please attend the LTCF call on Wednesday, July 28 from noon to 1 p.m.   Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/565057505?pwd=M0lUQURVb3RZSjV2U2hOcXRSSnBRUT09   Meeting ID: 565 057 505 Passcode: 116166 One tap mobile +13017158592,,565057505# US (Germantown) +13126266799,,565057505# US (Chicago)   Facilities are not required to be in compliance with the rapid testing requirement until the test supplies have been delivered. For immediate questions, please contact residentialcarestriketeam@state.co.us.   Links included in this message:   ●    Residential care facility mitigation guidance ●    CLIA waiver ●    Wednesday, July 28 LTCF Call

The CDPHE Residential Care Strike Force has updated the Residential Care Facility Mitigation Guidance to include enhanced infection prevention and control measures for unvaccinated staff and residents

 

To: Residential care facilities (Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Facilities, Group Homes, and Intermediate Care Facilities)   From: CDPHE Residential Care Strike Team and Infection Prevention and Control Unit   The state has released updated guidance modifying the enhanced infection prevention mitigation requirements for facilities.    On June 21, 2021, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) began notifying select facilities and counties of increased infection control measures in response to the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant. Some of that guidance has been included in the updated mitigation guidance and adopted for all Colorado residential care facilities. For those facilities that are currently under enhanced infection control measures, transition to the updated guidance when you receive a personalized letter from the Infection Prevention Team.    Full Overview of Changes to the Residential Care Mitigation Document Added use of rapid (molecular or antigen) surveillance and outbreak testing in addition to PCR testing for unvaccinated staff and residents.   Added clarification that facilities should use a CDPHE contracted lab for PCR testing or ensure whole genome sequencing of specimens is possible (either performed at non-CDPHE contracted lab with results reported to CDPHE or lab sends positive specimen to CDPHE for sequencing). Updated outbreak decision testing tree. Added required eye protection for unvaccinated staff members when outbreak testing is initiated. Removed crisis standards of care for PPE (e.g., CDCs crisis capacity strategies) as an option for Colorado healthcare facilities. Clarification added for testing and/or vaccination requirements for providers of ancillary non-medical services. To align with CMS, added the requirement to stop indoor visitation immediately when one or more positive cases are identified. To align with CMS, added clarification that outbreak testing following identification of one or more positive cases must be initiated immediately.  Added information about monoclonal antibody therapy including the need for residents who are diagnosed with COVID-19 to be promptly evaluated by a health care provider to determine treatment eligibility.   We understand implementing new guidance can be difficult and time-consuming. Please review the new guidance and we will send additional information in the coming days. For those facilities that are currently under enhanced infection control measures, transition to the updated guidance when you receive your personalized letter. We have developed a letter for residential care facility family members to inform on the current mitigation guideline status, please distribute at your leisure. Please be on the lookout for the following messages: Monday, July 26 • An in-depth description of the rapid testing rollout. In the meantime, facilities are encouraged to get started on the required CLIA waiver application in order to perform rapid tests at the facility. This information will also be covered step-by-step in upcoming testing webinars. Wednesday, July 28 •The biweekly long-term care webinar with an in-depth explanation about the updated guidance   For questions about the updated guidance, please contact: residentialcarestriketeam@state.co.us cdphe_infectionprevention@state.co.us   Links included in this message: All-in-one mitigation guidance Ancillary non-medical services Family member letter CLIA waiver application

PASA Data Needed

 

To: Program Approved Service Agencies   From: Behavioral Health and Community Services Section   In a collaborative effort between the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF), data collection efforts are underway to best inform CDPHE’s ongoing survey work for HCBS providers. As such, please complete and submit the following google form by July 21, 2021 with information about your facility’s current name, current number of persons receiving services, information about your facility’s practice of maintaining and updating the facility roster, services currently offered and confirmation of your facility’s Program Provider Identification Number (PPID).   PASA Data Google Form     Questions can be directed to Jane Flournoy, Behavioral Health and Community Services Section Manager, at jane.flournoy@state.co.us

Training: OASIS-D1: Line-by-Line Review

 

To: Home Health Agencies, Administrators, and OASIS Coordinators From: The Health Facilities Education and Quality (HFEQ) Branch of the Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division (HFEMSD) There was an overwhelming response from the participants of the OASIS-D1 Basics for Providers training held in April 2021, to follow-up with another training focusing on the individual OASIS items. Because of your interest, a training has been developed to review the OASIS-D1 line-by-line. The training is scheduled for Thursday, July 29, 2021 from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. It will be 8 hours in length, to allow enough time to cover the OASIS data items in their entirety.  Registration will be open until Wednesday, July 28, 2021 and will be available on the Co-Train link listed below.   OASIS-D1: Line-by-Line Review References: OASIS-D Guidance Manual  OASIS Item Set Other questions? Contact wendy.castro@state.co.us

DORA Reminder On Emergency Order Expiration

 

To:  Healthcare Providers This information is being sent to you so that you are aware of potential upcoming changes to the Governor’s Executive Orders. Please be aware that emergency rules for multiple healthcare professions relating to the expansion of scope of practice during the pandemic are set to expire on August 6, 2021 under the Colorado COVID-19 Disaster Recovery Order, unless extended by the Governor. If the Governor extends the Executive Order we will notify you, as necessary, using this same method of communication. The suspension of certain nurse and nurse aide education requirements pursuant to the Governor’s Executive Orders also are currently scheduled to conclude as part of the wind-down. An extension of the Disaster Recovery Order and provisions related to the medical surge is possible and the Division of Professions and Occupations (DPO) wants to alert you to these pending changes to ensure all professionals are properly licensed and operating under the rules, laws, and policies set forth by your applicable healthcare board(s) by that time. Medical surge Inpatient facilities and hospitals have been able to temporarily use readily available personnel to fill healthcare service gaps during the COVID-19  state of emergency declaration and now the Disaster Recovery Executive Order. The temporary relaxation of these restrictions - in conjunction with the expansion of delegation for certain medical personnel - has afforded these entities the flexibility to connect readily available healthcare staff into non-traditional roles and alleviate workforce shortages. Facilities should be prepared for any business/staffing implications that may arise as a result of the wind-down of the Disaster Recovery Executive Order. For example, in the event that you hired staff based upon their temporary ability to work within these exemptions, you will want to ensure they meet all licensing requirements for their respective profession in order to continue uninterrupted employment.  Or, if staff has performed services outside of their normal scope based on guidance included within the Executive Order, you will want to make sure those services cease once the relevant provisions in the Executive Order are terminated. Affected professions include Chiropractic, Dental, Medical, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Physical Therapy, Podiatry, Respiratory Therapy, Surgical Assistants/Technologists, and Veterinary. For Nurses: Professional and practical nursing applicants granted temporary licensure under the Governor’s Executive Orders must cease practice as a practical nurse, professional nurse, or advanced practice nurse if a full license to practice professional nursing in Colorado was not granted on or before June 30, 2021.  New graduates of approved nursing programs for these license types who met all qualifications for licensure with the exception of successful completion of the required examination will no longer be issued a temporary license and must now successfully pass the examination prior to licensure as set forth in Section 12-255-109, Colorado Revised Statutes. CNA graduates currently working on a temporary license based on provisions in previous Executive Orders will want to ensure completion and passage of the required test for full licensure before the Dec. 31, 2021 expiration date.  Skills examinations may be scheduled through Pearson Vue. It is important for employers to ensure their temporarily licensed staff schedule their exam as soon as possible to avoid any staffing gaps once the temporary licenses expire on Dec. 31, 2021. Those CNA graduates whose temporary license was issued between Dec. 7, 2020 and April 5, 2021, and expired on June 30, 2021, may apply for a second temporary certification. These individuals must submit documentation of passage of the written exam and attest that they will register for the required skills exam within 60 days of availability in their regional area (within 250 miles). Those CNA graduates granted a temporary license who have failed the skills exam are not eligible for a second temporary certification. This information above is the latest currently available, and is subject to change based on any extensions/changes to the Disaster Recovery Executive Order. Please make sure to check communications from DPO prior to the August 6, 2021 Executive Order expiration date, alerting the public to any such revisions. For Nurse/Nurse Aide Education Programs The suspension of certain nurse and nurse aide education requirements pursuant to the Disaster Recovery Order were extended on July 8 for a period of 120 days or the expiration of the Disaster Recovery Order, whichever occurs first. This means that nurse and nurse aide education programs should be making arrangements to fully return to meeting the educational requirements set forth in Rules 1.11 and 1.2 pending the expiration of the Disaster Recovery Order and/or the relevant provisions in the Executive Order. Thank you for your attention to these important changes. Please address any questions to dora_dpo_licensing@state.co.us.

REMINDER: EMResource Reporting

 

To: Residential care facilities (Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Facilities, Group Homes, and Intermediate Care Facilities)   From: CDPHE Residential Care Strike Team & Infection Prevention and Control Unit   In accordance with the seventh amended Public Health Order 20-20, all residential care facilities are required to report into EMResource on a weekly basis. CDPHE utilizes EMResource for situational awareness and resource management. It is extremely important that facilities report the most accurate and up-to-date information.    The Strike Team has been aware of workforce and other resource shortages in many facilities; however, the data in EMResource does not fully reflect this. In order to provide the resources to best meet needs of facilities, it is imperative that the Strike Team has a comprehensive and accurate understanding of the needs throughout the state.   If any of your facilities’ information in EMResource is out of date, please update each component of the report and submit immediately. On a weekly basis, please ensure all EMResource questions are reviewed and updated prior to submission.    If you have NOT YET accessed EMResource or would like additional information, please follow the training/support materials outlined in the EMResource Account Access Document. Training materials are broken down by facility type: Nursing Facilities Assisted Living Residences Intermediate Care Facilities and Group Homes For questions about EMResource reporting, contact residentialcarestriketeam@state.co.us.

PASA Data Needed

 

To: Program Approved Service Agencies   From: Behavioral Health and Community Services Section   In a collaborative effort between the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF), data collection efforts are underway to best inform CDPHE’s ongoing survey work for HCBS providers. As such, please complete and submit the following google form by July 21, 2021 with information about your facility’s current name, current number of persons receiving services, information about your facility’s practice of maintaining and updating the facility roster, services currently offered and confirmation of your facility’s Program Provider Identification Number (PPID).   PASA Data Google Form     Questions can be directed to Jane Flournoy, Behavioral Health and Community Services Section Manager, at jane.flournoy@state.co.us

ALR IDR Committee Meeting

 

To: ALR providers   From: HFEMSD   The ALR IDR Committee will meet on 07/22/21. This will be a virtual meeting. The meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m. The public is welcome to listen to the committee discussion. To access the meeting:   Join with Google Meet: meet.google.com/ira-swtk-fwp    or Join by phone ‪(US) +1 567-331-1195 PIN: ‪506 053 377#   Elaine Sabyan

HHA IDR Committee Meeting

 

To: HHA providers   From: HFEMSD   The HHA IDR Committee will not meet 07/20/2021. No requests have been received for committee review.   Elaine Sabyan

Deadline extended - Nursing Home Innovative Grant Board – CMP Grant Proposal Announcement

To: CMS Certified NH providers, owners, administrators and other interested parties   From: Jo Tansey, Branch Chief, Nursing Facilities, HFEMSD   The Nursing Home Innovations Grant Board has issued a call for proposals for Grant Cycle 13. The deadline for applications has been extended. Applications will be due on or before 5 p.m. MST on August 15, 2021. The grants are comprised of monies collected through nursing home civil monetary penalties (CMPs).   You can find the Call for Proposals, instructions, application and deliverables worksheet at   www.colorado.gov/hcpf/nursing-home-innovations-grant-board   or   https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/nursing-home-innovations-grant-board-0     Please submit questions and applications to cdphe_nhib_grants@state.co.us.