Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Visit this website daily for the latest information that FHCA has to share about COVID-19. As concerns arise with the emerging coronavirus, officially named COVID-19, we are working with our state partners, including Florida Department of Health and Agency for Health Care Administration to ensure nursing centers receive necessary guidance to prevent the spread of this disease.

FHCA Nursing Home Health & Regulatory Partner Call
Every Thursday
4:15 p.m. EST
Lines are limited, participants are encouraged to call in early.

Dial 1-866-951-1151
Room Number 8484844#

All participants will be muted during these calls to help streamline information delivery. Participants are asked to email questions in advance to covid@fhca.org - please enter “FHCA Call Question” in the subject line.

If you are a member of the press, we ask you to please listen to the call recordings vs dial in to the calls live. This ensures our providers on the front lines have first access to the limited lines available for these calls.

State/Federal Stakeholder Calls

Visit the FHCA home page for a list of upcoming COVID-19 stakeholder calls, webcasts and webinars.

State of Florida Updates

On March 15, at the direction of Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz issued an Emergency Order tightening the temporary restrictions for all individuals entering residential and long-term care facilities. For the next 30 days, all individuals will be prohibited from entering nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Review Emergency Order 20-006 for specific details and guidance.

• Executive Order 20-112 (Phase 1: Plan for Florida's Recovery 5/7/20)
• Executive Order 20-112 FAQs (5/7/20)
• Executive Order 20-91 (Stay-At-Home Order, Essential Services and Activities During COVID-19 Emergency)
• Emergency Order AHCA No. 20-001 (Background Screening - 3/27/20)
• AHCA Follow-up to Agency’s Guidance to Implement Universal Use of Face Masks in Residential / Long Term Care Facilities (3/19/20)
• AHCA Provider Alert: Residential and Long Term Care Facilities to Implement Universal Use of Facial Masks (3/18/20)

FHCA Communications

FHCA-Partner Conference Calls
Click Here for Archives of FHCA Partner Call Audio Recordings

• 5/28 FHCA Call Recording
• 5/21 FHCA Call Recording
• 5/18 Statewide Testing Call Recording
• 5/14 FHCA Call Recording
• 5/7 FHCA Call Recording
• 4/30 FHCA Call Recording
• 4/23 FHCA Call Recording
• 4/21 FHCA Call Recording
• 4/16 FHCA Call Recording
• 4/14 FHCA Call Recording
• 4/9 FHCA Call Recording
• 4/7 FHCA Call Recording
• 4/3 FHCA Call Recording
• 3/27 FHCA Call Recording

FHCA Email Alerts
Click Here for March-April Archives of FHCA Email Alerts

• 5/29 Alert - Hurricane Season & COVID-19 Guidance, NHSN Reporting Resources, Alliant Quality Survey Readiness Book, Executive Order Extends Deadline for Professional Licensure Renewals (including CNAs), CDC Website Updates
• 5/27 Alert - NHSN Update and FAQs,  CDC Hurricane Season Webinar, CARES Act Attestation Window Extended, FHCA COVID-19 Webinars
• 5/21 Alert - COVID-19 Testing Q&As, Resident Stimulus Payments, Revised OSHA Policies, Nursing Home Administrator CEU Requirements, Updated CARES Act FAQs, Setting Up Your Facility's COVID-19 Unit Webinar (5/21)
• 5/18 Alert - CMS Guidance on Reopening Nursing Homes, Statewide Testing Initiative Call Recording, AHCA 2020 Pre-Hurricane Season Reminders, CNA Licensure Renewal Deadline, Hospital-Nursing Home Partnership Webinar Today
• 5/14 Alert - AHCA Extends Nursing Facility Quality Assessment Payment Date, AHCA FAQ on Hospital Testing Emergency Rule, Part B Therapy Code Edits, CMS Nursing Home Toolkit & Administrator Letter, PPE Burn Rate Calculator, Governor's Press Conference on Long Term Care
• 5/12 Alert - AHCA Emergency Rules RE: COVID-19 Testing of Staff/Required Access for DOH Infection Prevention and Control Purposes, FHCA COVID-19 Testing Webinar & Upcoming Series, DOH Return to Work Criteria, NHSN Accurately Reporting Staffing & PPE Shortages 
• 5/7 Alert - Visitor Restrictions Continue, Generator Compliance Expected by June 1, CMS Memo on Reporting Requirements, NHSN Data Collection Tips
• 5/5 Alert - CMS Interim Final Rule on COVID-19 Reporting, More CDC Resources on NHSN COVID-19 Module, Updated CDC Guidance on Return to Work and Clinical Care, FEMA PPE Supply to Nursing Homes Update
• 5/4 Alert - DOH Expands LTC Facility List with Associated COVID-19 Deaths, CMS Updates SNF Blanket Waivers, Daily National Nursing Home Huddle Calls
• 4/30 Alert - CDC Mandatory Reporting/Training Webinars, CMP Funding Resources, 1135 Waiver Admission Tracking, CDC's Frontline Staff Training Webinars, Infection Control Resources, John A. Hartford Foundation Webinar

Guidance and Resources

COVID-19 Positive Cases

• FHCA Positive Case Identified: What to Expect Webinar Resources (5/14)
• Discontinuation of Transmission-based Precautions and Disposition of Patients with COVID-19 in Long-term Care Facilities (5/11/20)
• FHCA Cohorting: Steps to Setting Up Your Facility's COVID-19 Unit Webinar Resources (5/21)
• AHCA Guidance for Converting a Patient Room into a Temporary Airborne Infection Isolation (TAII) Room
• AHCA Office of Plans & Construction COVID-19 Guidance/Q&A
• CDC LTCF COVID-19 Reporting Module / CDC LTCF COVID-19 Reporting Module Enrollment
• AHCA Alert: LTC and Residential Facility Family Notification of Positive Case Requirement Reminder (4/17/20)
• CMS Cohorting/LTC Facility Transfer Scenarios Guidance
• DOH Update on Reporting COVID-19 Cases for Health Care Providers and Facilities (4/3/20)
• Cohorting Consideration Guide (AHCA/NCAL Resource)

Statewide Testing Initiative Resources

• DOH Lab Results Call Center/ Call Center: 833-956-0323 or stateesf8.planning@flhealth.gov
• DOH LTC Facility Administration Registration Flyer
• DOH How to Conduct Testing in the LTC Facility Flyer
• DOH Employee Testing Registration Flyer

Testing

• AHCA QAs Re: Emergency Rules for NH and ALF Testing
• AHCA Emergency Rule 59AER20-3 Regarding Testing & Infection Prevention and Control Purposes - Nursing Homes (5/10/20)
• AHCA Emergency Rule 59AER20-2 Regarding Testing & Infection Prevention and Control Purposes - ALFs (5/10/20)
• AHCA/NCAL Preparing for Widespread Testing Guidance
• FHCA Testing Expectations & Precautionary Measures Webinar Resources (5/12)

Hurricane Season & COVID-19

• AHCA Provider Alert with Guidance on Hurricane Season & COVID-19 Considerations (5/29/20)
• CDC Webinar Recording - 2020 Hurricane Season During COVID-19

EMS Facility Site Visits

• Dept. of Health Guidance to NHs & ALFs on EMS Facility Site Visits

Restrictions/Screening Tools

• Employee Screening Tool: PDF / MS Word (Updated 5/13/20) NEW
• Sample Employee Screening Log - Excel (Updated 4/29/20)
• Visitor Screening Tool: PDF / MS Word (Updated 4/29/20)
• Screener Competency Tool
• Emergency Order 20-006 Re: Visitation Limits at Residential, Skilled Nursing and Long-term Care Facilities
• AHCA Provider FAQs on Emergency Order 20-006
• CMS Guidance RE Visitor Restrictions (3/13/20)

Transfer/Admissions

• FHCA Transfer and Admissions: Keys to Building a Strong Hospital -Nursing Home Partnership Webinar Resources (5/19)
• AHCA Emergency Rule: Hospital COVID-19 Testing Requirements for Long-term Care Facility Residents (5/5/20) /Q&A
• AHCA Alert: Nursing Home COVID-19 Response/Resident Transfer (5/5/20)
• CMS Cohorting/LTC Facility Transfer Scenario Guidance
• SNF to Hospital Transfer Form
• Hospital to SNF Transfer Form (Updated 3-19-20)
• Clarification of COVID-19 Guidance Pertaining to Testing and Disposition of Hospital Patients
• Admitting Residents with Respiratory Illness

Health Care Personnel

• CDC Updated Healthcare Personnel Return to Work Criteria (4/13/20) 
• CDC Guidance on Critical Workers Implementing Safety Practices
• DOH Guidance - Return to Work Criteria for Essential with Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19  NEW
• Health Care Staff Travel Letter for Use During Established Curfews (DOH Ltr to Law Enforcement)
• Temporary Personal Care Attendant Program: Overview & Facility Training Materials (Extended through 7/31/20)
• AHCA Alert: Health Care Provider Background Screening (3/28/20)
• Dept. of Health Live Scan Service Providers
• Managing Stressful Conditions: Best Practice Tips 
• Healthcare Staffing Agencies (FLHealthFinder.gov - Search by Provider Type - “Health Care Services Pool”)
• CNA Competency Tool
• Sample Facility Letter Re: Essential Health Care Worker (to attach with DOH Law Enforcement letter)

Residents

• Nebulizer Treatment for COVID-19 Infected Residents with Severe Respiratory Symptoms
• AHCA/NCAL Guidance on Offering Compassionate Care/Advance Care Planning Discussions
• Recommendations for When Residents Want to Leave Building
• Medicaid FAQ document Re: Eligibility Implication of Stimulus Checks (#54)
• Economic Impact Payments for Social Security and SSI Beneficiaries with Representative Payees / SSA Press Release

Child Care

• Priority Childcare for First Responders/Healthcare Workers - Checklist for submitting application
• Early Learning Coalitions (local list)

Communal Dining

• AHCA/NCAL Communal Dining Guidance

Personal Protective Equipment

• PPE Resources (Staff Competency Training, Video/Posters on Proper Use, Conservation Strategies)
• N95 Mask Decontamination for Florida Nursing Centers (Free Program Through Battelle)
• FDEM COVID-19 Emergency Requisition Request Form (Submit to Local Emergency Management Office)
• CDC PPE Burn Rate Calculator
• CDC Guidance on PPE Listed as Expired

Supplies/Resource Listing

• Contact List of Resources (PPE, Telehealth, Staffing, Hygiene Care, Laboratories, etc.)

Telehealth

• CMS Long-Term Care Nursing Homes Telehealth and Telemedicine Tool Kit
• CMS Q&A Video on Telehealth

Financial/Reimbursement

• Civil Money Penalty (CMP) Reinvestment Application Template - Communicative Technology Request
• Civil Money Penalty (CMP) Application for Communicative Technology Request Frequently Asked Questions
• Beneficiary is Hospital Inpatient (Community Admission or SNF Readmission)  
• Beneficiary Admission From Community, ER, or Hospital Observation Stay  
• Beneficiary is SNF Long Term Care Resident (Skill-in-Place)  
• CMS SNF Medicare Part A Coverage Waiver Guidance
• CARES Act Provider Relief Fund Website / Attestation Portal / FAQs on Provider Relief Fund (AHCA/NCAL)
• Agency for Health Care Administration Medicaid Alerts & FAQs
• Emergency Order AHCA 20-2002 to Suspend Nursing Home and Intermediate Care Facility Assessment Payments (4/15/20)
• Florida Medicaid Alert: Medicaid Provider Enrollment 6-Month Revalidation Extension (4/15/20)
• CMS FAQ on Medicare Fee-for-Service
• COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)for State Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Agencies
• Medicare Accelerated and Advanced Payment FAQs UPDATED

Communication Tools

• Crisis Communications Webinar Recording, Sample Family Communications, Media Resources
• CDC COVID-19 Prevention Messages for Frontline Long-term Care Staff (YouTube Video Series)

Employer Guides

• Applicability of Paid-Leave Provisions in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act
• Addressing the Coronavirus Outbreak – An Employers Guide
• Additional Employment Resources (Members Only)

Regulatory Updates

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
COCA Facebook Page (check frequently for informative live stream meetings)

• CDC National Health Safey Network (NHSN) System COVID-19 Module
• Alliant Quality Office Hours for NHSN Enrollment Assistance Webinar: June 2 at 1:00 p.m. EST
• CDC Guidance Re: Nursing Home Notifications to State/Local Health Dept.
• CDC Guidance on Critical Workers Implementing Safety Practices
• Updated CDC Guidance on Use of Masks, Gowns and Face Shields in Crisis Shortages
• CDC Strategies to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 in LTC Facilities
• CDC Infection Prevention and Control Assessment Tool for Nursing Homes Preparing for COVID-19
• CDC Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Preparedness Checklist for Nursing Homes and other Long-Term Care Settings
• Additional CDC Guidance and Resources

Florida Department of Health

• Florida Department of Health COVID-19 Updates
• DOH Guidance for Assisted Living Communities
• Health Care Practitioner Reporting Guidelines for Reportable Diseases and Conditions in Florida
• Clinical Screening Tool for Identifying Persons Under Investigation for COVID-19 (5/11/20)
• Enhanced Surveillance and Preparedness for COVID-19 Reporting for Healthcare Providers
• Florida Department of Health (Florida Health) Contact Information For Providers to Report Diseases and Conditions
• Health Care Coalitions in Florida (The purpose of HCCs is to ensure that local providers and other health care partners plan collaboratively for the risks facing the health care community and identify available local resources)
• Florida Department of Health COVID-19 Toolkit (infographics, guidance)
• Bureau of Public Health Laboratories

Agency for Health Care Administration

All nursing centers and assisted living facilities should be reporting into the Emergency Status System by 10:00 a.m. EST daily, including weekends, until further notice.

• AHCA COVID-19 web page
• AHCA Provider Alert - Facility Site Visits (3/28/20)
• AHCA Provider Alert with Guidance on Hurricane Season & COVID-19 Considerations (5/29/20) NEW
• Emergency Status System
• AHCA’s Emergency Status System: What’s New & What Facilities Need to Know Webinar (5/27 at 11 AM EST)
• COVID-19 Emergency Status System Resources
• AHCA ESS Reporting Updates (5/13/20)
• LTC Facility Additional Info Guidance Document
• AHCA ESS Who to Contact for Assistance
• Preadmission Screening and Resident Reviews (All Preadmission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR) processes may be postponed until further notice by the Agency)
• FEDERAL SECTION 1135 WAIVER
• Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) Policy Transmittal: 2020-12
• Novel Coronavirus Update for Health Care Facilities and Providers

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

• CMS Current Emergencies Website
• Alliant Quality COVID-19 Survey Readiness Booklet NEW
• CMS Toolkit on State Actions to Mitigate COVID-19 Prevalence in Nursing Homes
• CMS QSO-20-28 NH Nursing Home Five Star Quality Rating System updates, Nursing Home Staff Counts, and Frequently Asked Questions (4/24/20)
• CMS Upcoming Requirements for Notification of Confirmed COVID-19 (or COVID-19 Persons under Investigation) Among Residents and Staff in Nursing Homes (4/19/20)
• CMS Long Term Care Facility Guidance (4/2/20)
• CMS COVID-19 Self-Assessment Infection Control Tool (developed with CDC) / American Health Care Association Action Brief on COVID-19 Infection Control Focused Surveys
• CMS Prioritization of Survey Activities (QSO-20-20-All, 3/23/20)
• CMS Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Nursing Nomes (QSO-20-14 NH Revised 3/13/20)
• CMS Waivers of Three-Day Stay and Spell of Illness (3/13/2020)
• CMS Suspension of Survey Activities (QSO-20-12 All 3/4/20)
• Additional CMS Guidance and Resources

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

• Template Letter in Response to OSHA Inquiries 
• COVID-19 Guidance in Consideration of OSHA Obligations When PPE is Critically Low or Unavailable
• COVID-19 Recommendations for N95 Respirator Shortages Based on OSHA and CDC Guidance
• OSHA Revised Policies for Enforcing OSHA Requirements for COVID-19
• OSHA COVID-19 Resources (Including Interim Enforcement Guidance for Recording Cases and Response Plan)

Florida Board of Nursing

• DOH Emergency Order 20-008 - Extends Professional Licensure Renewal through July 31. 2020 (5/28/20)
• DOH Emergency Order Re License Renewal Expiration

Florida Board of Pharmacy

• Florida Board of Pharmacy Suspends Requirement of Onsite Inspections by Consultant Pharmacist

Additional Resources

• COVID-19 Information for Deaf or Hard of Hearing (English / Spanish)
• FDA Food Service Safety Practices (4/21/20)
• Hospice in LTC Facilities Guidance
• FMDA Stakeholders Meeting Video - Preparing for the COVID-19 Surge in Florida
• Resident Laundry Guidance with COVID-19
• Best Practices for Retail Food Stores, Restaurants, and Food Pick-Up and Delivery Services During the COVID 19 Pandemic
• EPA-Registered Disinfectant Products (Coronaviruses are enveloped viruses, meaning they are one of the easiest types to kill with appropriate disinfectants)
• Washington Nursing Home COVID-19 Outbreak: Lessons Learned
• AHCA/NCAL Coronavirus Resources
• AHCA/NCAL Coronavirus Webinar Recording (Mar. 3, 2020)
• The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine (AMDA) Interim Recommendations for Post-Acute & LTC Facilities (Feb. 28, 2020)
• Long Term Care Respiratory Surveillance Line List
• Taking Care of Your Behavioral Health During Isolation