12/17/2020

Today's COVID-19 Report: Friday, December 18, 2020

Friday, December 18, 2020

Here are the latest need-to-know updates for Friday, December 18 regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

A reminder to all members

Check LeadingAge's FAQs and Resources on COVID-29 Vaccines and Issues Surrounding Vaccinations frequently. The most recent update includes Q&A on implications of mandating the vaccine for staff

In Today's Report

• You asked... We answered regarding if Independent living residents in CCRC/Life Plan Communities are in the initial roll-out for the vaccine 
• Vaccination roll-out challenges emerge
• Monoclonal antibodies: How and why to access
• REMINDER: $15,000 Ohio reimbursement deadline is Monday, December 21 for Clean Air Technology
• LeadingAge Need to Know

You asked... We answered

You asked:

Are Independent living residents (IL) in CCRC/Life Plan Communities included in the initial roll-out of the vaccine? 

We answered:

LeadingAge has been hearing different policies around the country; LeadingAge Ohio members are hearing that residents are NOT included. In Wednesday’s discussion with CVS representatives, CVS said IL residents on a campus are not covered.  LeadingAge asked CDC this question again.  They said the Pharmacy Partnership LTC plan does not include stand-alone IL communities. There is more flexibility for IL residents in a CCRC/LPC – though the official policy, based on the ACIP recommendation is that they are not included. However, there is some flexibility in how this is carried out.  For instance, jurisdictions may elect to include IL residents of Life Plan Communities. The CVS/Walgreens partners will work with states and jurisdictions on these determinations. Unofficially, it is also possible that there will be additional vaccine doses when all staff on the campus and all nursing home and assisted living residents have been immunized. Decisions might be made about how to use those doses.

Vaccination roll-out challenges emerge

While news of the hospitals’ success with the vaccination roll-out began this week, nursing homes and assisted living providers have already begun experiencing delays with the roll-out. LeadingAge Ohio was alerted by our members that their original scheduled vaccination clinic dates in December were being pushed back into January, some as far as late January without a specific date provided. The reason provided by the pharmacy partner was lack of staffing to administer the vaccine, in particular, an insufficient number of pharmacists to administer the vaccine in spite of their hiring campaign. When asked if nurses from the facilities could assist in the roll-out, it was shared that the board of pharmacy requires the pharmacies to only use a pharmacist or, per recent approval, a pharmacy technician. Of the 260 nursing homes in the Cincinnati and Dayton region assigned to this pharmacy, only 41 will receive vaccinations by the end of the year. The hiring and training of pharmacy technicians are now beginning for this pharmacy company which should ramp up vaccination schedules sometime in January. LeadingAge Ohio is working to determine whether this is a pharmacy specific situation or one for which advocacy is needed to increase the breadth of staff able to administer the vaccine.

Communication from the pharmacies has been another area of concern expressed by our members. Some facilities have not received their initial outreach by their pharmacy partner or are unable to reach their assigned contact. Some facilities have received an initial communication but have not received their initial clinic date. Communication received on the requirements for clinic set ups and consent approval varies between the participating pharmacy groups. 

We understand that a vaccination program is only as effective as its ability to get vaccines in arms. We are pleased to share that the Governor’s office is being attentive to this concern. LeadingAge Ohio will be reporting back on additional details. We are asking members to share your challenges with the vaccination roll-out by emailing those details to the COVID19@leadingageohio.org mailbox if you have not already reached out to us this week. When you write, let us know who your pharmacy partner is, if your clinic dates have been changed, if you are having difficulties with communication, and if you have not received your initial clinic date. If you are experiencing other challenges or concerns other than what is listed, please let us know. We are advocating on behalf of all post-acute providers and your voice and experiences are critical to hear.

Monoclonal antibodies: How and why to access

In November, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization for monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) therapy (specifically, bamlanivimab); it is approved for use in the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19. This treatment was shown in clinical trials to reduce COVID-19-related hospitalization or emergency room visits in high risk patients. The state of Ohio has received an allocation of mAbs, but there is also a federal initiative to distribute this infusion method directly through home infusion in nursing home and assisted living facilities and through participating pharmacies. This federal allocation program, called the Special Projects for Equitable and Efficient Distribution (SPEED), is working to distribute mAbs to priority populations, including nursing homes and federally qualified health centers.

Again, SPEED is separate and complementary to the state-based mAbs allocation system. If your facility is interested in learning more and potentially accessing mAbs, you should reach out to your medical director and/or pharmacy. This list represents those pharmacies currently signed up to receive mAbs. As the vaccine continues its roll-out – with a number of weeks before Ohioans in congregate settings are fully vaccinate -- mAbs offer potential life-saving mitigation of the COVID-19 virus. Watch for more information on this program on the Ohio Medical Directors Association website and early next week in the LeadingAge Ohio Today’s COVID-19 Report.

REMINDER: $15,000 Ohio reimbursement deadline is Monday, December 21 for Clean Air Technology

The State of Ohio has allocated $28 million in funding for clean air technology specifically for nursing, assisted living and adult day facilities. LeadingAge Ohio members can receive up to $15,000 in reimbursement from the program, but the deadline is fast approaching. Portable or HVAC disinfection technology needs to be operational by December 30 to qualify for the reimbursement from the State. So, technology providers such as Purge Virus need to have the orders received by Monday, December 21.

Eligibility for this program: 

Non-governmental nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and adult day centers that have a physical location within Ohio are eligible for the program. Please read the FAQ carefully to ensure a complete understanding of the program eligibility, the technology that qualifies for reimbursement, and the timeline required.

Technology Options to clean the air and reduce the spread of Covid-19

• #1: Portable Room Devices (142 to 186 sq ft - e.g. rooms that are 10' x 18')
  Cost: $450 each. Watch Video and ORDER Here  
  
  
• #2: Portable Common Area Devices (up to 1,600 sq ft with variable fan speeds)
  Cost: $2,500 each. Watch Video and ORDER Here
  
  
• #3: PTAC Wall HVAC Retrofits (includes installation labor)
  Cost: $600 installed. This solution is for the combination heating and air conditioning units that are commonly used in senior living as well as Motels and Hotels. To learn more, please click here. (For this option, your facility must have some form of rapid testing for the installers upon arrival.)   

To order please email the National Sales Director at Purge Virus, Tom.Cleary@PurgeVirus.com, and include the desired number of PTAC retrofits with your billing and shipping address. (The minimum order is ten (10) PTAC units given the need to coordinate the installation.)

Reimbursement Support Information: 

Questions not answered in the FAQ should be emailed to grants@bwc.state.oh.us.

After you have ordered your devices, please use this Reimbursement application, which is due by December 30.

LeadingAge Need to Know: COVID-19 – December 18, 2020

LeadingAge shares the latest coronavirus news and resources with members twice each weekday. This morning's update featured more on the 2020 Year in Review: COVID Support and Education.

Check out the full report here.

Questions

Please send all questions to COVID19@leadingageohio.org. Additionally, members are encouraged to visit the LeadingAge Ohio COVID-19 Working Group facebook group to pose questions to peers and share best practices. LeadingAge is continuing its daily calls for all members.  To participate in these daily online updates, members should register here.  

LeadingAge Ohio is working to ensure that the information in our daily alerts, on our website, and all coronavirus-related communications is as accurate as possible. However, LeadingAge Ohio makes no guarantees about the accuracy of the information.