Facility Operations
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Visit this website for the latest information that FHCA has to share about COVID-19.
Public Health Emergency
- Medicaid.gov PHE Unwinding Homepage
- HHS Letters to Governors Regarding Waivers & Flexibilities Re: PHE Unwinding
Vaccinations
- CMS Memo: QSO 22-17-ALL: Surveys for compliance with Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination Requirements (6/14/22)
- CMS Memo: SO-22-04-ALL: Vaccination Regulation: Enforcement of Rule Imposing Vaccine Requirement for Health Care Staff in Medicare- and Medicaid-certified Providers and Suppliers is Suspended so Long as Court Ordered Injunctions Remain in Effect (12/2/21)
- CMS QSO 22-07-All Attachment A
- CMS Staff COVID-19 Vaccination Matrix F888
- AHCA/NCAL Template Policies and Procedures (MS Word)
- AHCA/NCAL Template Follow-up to Medical Exemption Request (MS Word)
- AHCA/NCAL Webinar Slides: CMS IFR on Healthcare Employee Vaccinations (11/5/21)
- CMS Interim Final Rule (IFR) on Healthcare Employee Vaccinations (11/4/21)
- OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard Update (12/27/21)
- CDC Updated Guidance for Fully Vaccinated Individuals (1/5/22)
- Invest in Trust: A Guide for Building COVID-19 Vaccine Trust and Increasing Vaccination Rates Among CNAs
- CDC Updated Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations in Response to COVID-19 Vaccination
- AHCA/NCAL Summary on CMS/CDC Updates in response to vaccination (4/27/21)
- Vaccine Resources Web Page
Monoclonal Antibody Treatments
- 8/24 Webinar Recording: Monoclonal Antibody Treatments in Long Term Care – Effectiveness & Options for Making These Therapeutics Available to Your Residents
- Florida Treatment Sites
- Dept. of Health Strike Team Contact Information
- Fact Sheet for Patients, Parents and Caregivers Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) OF REGEN-COVTM (casirivimab and imdevimab) For Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
- Overview of Direct Order Process for COVID-19 Therapeutics
- REGEN-COV EAU Guidebook (7/21)
- NIH Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Monoclonal Antibodies
Testing
- CMS QSO-20-NH (Testing) (Updated 9/23/2022)
- SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Testing in Long Term Care Facilities
- Rapid COVID Antigen Self Test Florida Vendors (Jan 2022)
- CMS QSO Memo on Testing (Revised 9-10-21)
- New Nursing Facility COVID Testing FAQs (12/8/20)
- Florida Department of Health County Positivity Rates (scroll to 'Testing' section; updated weekly)
- NHSN Updated with Testing Requirements Questions (9/21)
- CMS QSO Memo 20-37: NH: Requirements of Reporting by Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) Certified Labs (8/26/20)
- CMS PowerPoint Presentation: New COVID 19 Testing and Reporting Requirements
- COVID-19 County-Level Positivity Rates
- CDC Considerations for Interpreting Antigen Test Results in Nursing Homes Algorithm
- DOH Lab Results Call Center/ Call Center: 833-956-0323 or stateesf8.planning@flhealth.gov
Guidance and Resources
Infection Prevention and Control Guidance NEW
- AHCA Operational Updates on Source Control/Masks: Hospitals & Long Term Care Facilities (9/20/22)
- CDC Guidance for COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control (9/23/2022)
- Interim Guidance for Managing Healthcare Personnel with COVID-19 Infection or Exposure to COVID-19 (9/23/22)
- Strategies to Mitigate Healthcare Personnel Staffing Shortages | CDC (9/23/22)
- CMS updated recommendations for testing individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 (9/23/22)
Visitation
- CMS QSO-20-NH (Visitation) (Updated 9/23/2022)
- CMS QSO Memo & FAQs on Nursing Home Visitation (Revised 3/10/22)
- FHCA LTC Facility Visitation Resources (Updated 4/22)
COVID-19 Positive Cases
- FHCA Positive Case Identified: What to Expect Webinar Resources (5/14)
- CDC LTCF COVID-19 Reporting Module / CDC LTCF COVID-19 Reporting Module Enrollment
Cohorting/COVID-19 Units
- 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
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
Transfer/Admissions
- COVID-19 Patient Transfer Communication Tool (1/31/22)
- Infection Control Interfacility Transfer Form
- COVID Zone Tool
- “Go to the Hospital or Stay There” Decision Guide
- Acute/Post-Acute Collaborative (Hospital-Nursing Center Virtual Meetings, Resources & More)
- FHCA Transfer and Admissions: Keys to Building a Strong Hospital -Nursing Home Partnership Webinar Resources (5/19)
- Admitting Residents with Respiratory Illness
Health Care Personnel
- CDC Updated Healthcare Personnel Return to Work Criteria
- CDC COVID-19 Workplace Strategies
- DOH Guidance - Return to Work Criteria for Essential with Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19 (7/20/20)
- 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”)
- Sample Facility Letter Re: Essential Health Care Worker (to attach with DOH Law Enforcement letter)
Personal Protective Equipment
- CDC – Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for HC personnel during pandemic
- CDC Guidance for Asymptomatic HCP Who Were Exposed to Individuals with Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 Infection
- PPE Resources (Staff Competency Training, Video/Posters on Proper Use, Conservation Strategies)
- CDC PPE Burn Rate Calculator
- CDC PPE Guidance/FAQs
Telehealth
Financial/Reimbursement
- Health Plan Policies (Updates)
- CMS SNF Medicare Part A Coverage Waiver Guidance
- CARES Act Provider Relief Fund Website / Attestation Portal / FAQs on Provider Relief Fund
- Agency for Health Care Administration Medicaid Alerts & FAQs
- CMS FAQ on Medicare Fee-for-Service
- COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)for State Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Agencies
Communication Tools/ CMP Application Resources
- Civil Money Penalty (CMP) Reinvestment Application Template - Communicative Technology Request
- Civil Money Penalty (CMP) Application for Communicative Technology Request Frequently Asked Questions
- Crisis Communications Webinar Recording, Sample Family Communications, Media Resources
- CDC COVID-19 Prevention Messages for Frontline Long-term Care Staff (YouTube Video Series)
Regulatory Updates
National Healthcare Safety Network Reporting
- CDC National Health Safey Network (NHSN) System COVID-19 Module
- Alliant Health Solutions NHSN ShopTalk Video Shorts
- Alliant Health Solutions QIO Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- CDC Infection Prevention and Control Assessment Tool for Nursing Homes Preparing for COVID-19
- COCA Facebook Page (check frequently for informative live stream meetings)
- 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
Florida Department of Health
- Florida Department of Health COVID-19 Updates
- 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)
- Bureau of Public Health Laboratories
Agency for Health Care Administration
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
- CMS Current Emergencies Website
- CMS Targeted COVID-19 Training for Nursing Homes
- CMS How to Obtain a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) Waiver
- CMS Toolkit on State Actions to Mitigate COVID-19 Prevalence in Nursing Homes
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
- OSHA Healthcare Emergency Temporary Standards (12/27/21)
- OSHA ETS FAQs
- OSHA COVID-19 Healthcare Worksite Checklist & Employee Job Hazard Analysis
- OSHA Respiratory Protection Guidance for the Employers of Those Working in Nursing Homes, Assisted Living, and Other Long Term Care Facilities during the COVID-19 Pandemic