News

DEMA and SHOC Announce Hospital Overflow Sites in NCC, Downstate to Follow Later in Week

April 6, 2020

— The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) and the State Health Operations Center (SHOC) are announcing today the designation of alternative care sites (ACS) in New Castle County to accommodate overflow patients from Delaware hospital systems as they begin to experience a surge in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Sites for the southern part of... Read More

Spur Impact Exec Outlines the CARES and What It Means for DE Nonprofits

April 3, 2020

— The Paycheck Protection Program, Emergency Economic Injury Disaster Loans, and Tax Provisions are parts of federal government’s CARES Act in response to the coronavirus pandemic that are relevant to Delaware nonprofits, according to Charlie Vincent, Executive Director of Spur Impact. Vincent provided a bullet-pointed summary of these provisions as well as analysis on the Delaware... Read More

CDC Update: Disinfection and Infection Precention and Control

April 2, 2020

— In today’s COVID-19 update, the CDC posted a web page on Disinfecting Your Facility if Someone is Sick, targeted for the general population and all employers as well as updates on its Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control FAQs for COVID-19.  The April 1  FAQ Update aligns with the revised Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations... Read More

Guidance from DHCQ: Screening, Masking, Status Update, Resource Requests, More

April 1, 2020

— On Tuesday, the Delaware Division of Health Care Quality, Office of Health Facilities and Licensing, released a list of COVID-19 Resources for LTC Facilities to all skilled nursing and assisted living facilities. The memo includes specific masking guidance, updates and instructions for the weekly State Health Operations Center (SHOC) Status Update report, and specific updates... Read More

Governor Carney Issues 8th Modification to State of Emergency; Childcare, Employee Screenings Addressed

March 31, 2020

— Emergency Childcare Sites Governor John Carney on Monday signed the eighth modification to his State of Emergency declaration, which allows child care programs in Delaware to be designated as emergency child care sites in an effort to assist essential personnel during the coronavirus crisis. Read the full text of Monday’s order:Eighth-Modification-to-State-of-Emergency-03302020 (1) Starting April 6... Read More

CMS Issues Blanket Waivers for Long Term Care Providers

March 31, 2020

— The Center for Medicare and Medicaid has issued several blanket waivers for long term care providers with a retroactive effective date of March 1 through the end of the emergency declaration. The waivers address the following to help contain the spread of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities: Relaxing training and certification requirements for Nurse Aides... Read More

Health Care Workers Exempt From New Leave Benefits

March 30, 2020

— Nursing home, assisted living, and ID/DD staff are exempt from the Families First Coronavirus Response Act that expands the Family Medical Leave Act due to take effect on April 1. The US Department of Labor issued guidance on the new leave benefits, as explained in the FAQ . Companis with more than 500 employees are also... Read More

Medicare Accelerated and Advanced Payments Now Available

March 30, 2020

— From AHCA:   CMS announced today (March 28) that it is expanding its accelerated and advance payment program for Medicare providers. These payments provide emergency funding and address cash flow issues based on historical payments when there is disruption in claims submission and/or claims processing. These expedited payments are typically offered in natural disasters to... Read More

AMDA Issues COVID-19 and PALTC FAQ

March 30, 2020

— The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine (AMDA) released an FAQ  title “When COVID-19 is Currently in Your Regional Community (i.e., Community Spread).  This includes strategies to prevent the spread of infection in long-term care facilities. AMDA passed a resultion on March 19 stating, “that a COVID-19 naïve facility should not accept an admission... Read More

State Guidance fo Suspected COVID-19 Exposure, Isolation, and Working

March 30, 2020

— The State of Delaware has issued a Health Advisory providing guidance on when patients with suspected, presumed or confirmed COVID-19 may discontinue home isolation or return to work. This guidance comes with a caveat that it is subject to change as more information about the COVID-19 virus emerges.  The guidance covers high-risk exposure, medium-risk exposure,... Read More