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Due to the rising cases of COVID-19 infection and hospitalizations, on Thursday, December 3, Delaware Governor John Carney issued a new Stay-at-Home advisory from December 14 to January 11, asking individuals to avoid gathering with anyone outside the immediate household. This does not include workplace gatherings or traveling to and from the workplace. The governor… Read More
From Provider Magazine: The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a panel of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has decided to include long-term care residents and staff in the first round of COVID-19 vaccine distribution. “On behalf of our long-term care industry, we applaud the ACIP for prioritizing our residents and caregivers for… Read More
Researchers at the Weill Cornell medical College in New York found that nursing homes owned by private equity firms had lower PPE supply levels than for-profit, nonprofit, and government-owned facilities in a study of 11,470 SNFs. The reason for this was unclear, but the researchers speculate that cost-cutting strategies may have caused the shortage. The… Read More
The Delaware Division of Public Health released updated Testing Guidance for Long-Term Care Facilities on October 12. The guidance includes an update definition of “facility Staff” to include employees, consultants, contractors, volunteers, and caregivers who provide care and services to residents, and students in a nurse aide training programs or from affiliated institutions. Download the… Read More
The Medical Society of Delaware has released guidance for telemedicine services in the state. This covers Department of Insurance guidance and guidance from insurers Aetna, AmeriHealth Caristas, Cigna, CMS Medicare, DMMA Medicaid, Highmark BCBS, and United Healthcare. Also included are the Delaware Telehealth Coalition and ERISA Plans. The guidance is available here.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is allowing long-term care providers to use Federal Civil Money Penalties (CMP) to purchase equipment to facilitate safe in-person visitation spaces to help fill residents’ psychosocial needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Facilities may apply for and use up to $3,000 in CMP dollars to purchase tents for outdoor… Read More
The Delaware Division of Public Health and the Division of Health Care Quality announced that its COVID-19 Reopening Plan for Long Term Care Facilities will allow visitations to resume based on each provider’s status, as determined by three stages. Providers must submit written plans, and receive approval of the plans, from DHCQ for visitations to… Read More
Due to the pandemic, DHCFA has postponed its annual Trade Show until September 23, 2021 at Dover Downs. DHCFA is planning a Virtual Showcase and Education Program for November. Details will be posted when all plans are finalized.
For the month of August, the State Police is accepting LTC and Home Care as walk-ins at their Dover location. Monday-Friday 8:30am-11:45am and 12:30pm-3:00pm. Walk-ins will be seen after their scheduled appointments, so there may be a wait. If the new hire already has an appointment they should either keep it or when arriving at… Read More
Governor John Carney on Monday signed Executive Order #43, creating the Rapid Workforce Training and Redeployment Training Initiative to assist Delaware workers and their families who have lost jobs and income due to the COVID-19 crisis. The workforce development program will initially be funded with $10 million of federal CARES Act funding. Investments in workforce development… Read More