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 Monday, Wednesday and Friday
11:00 a.m. EST

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.

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.

• 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)
• Emergency Order 20-006 Re: Visitation Limits at Residential, Skilled Nursing and Long-term Care Facilities
• Emergency Order 20-002 Re: Prohibiting Certain Individuals from Visiting Facilities (Mar. 11, 2020)
• Executive Order 20-52: Emergency Management-COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (Mar. 9, 2020)
• Executive Order 20-51: Establishes COVID-19 Response and Directs Public Health Emergency (Mar. 1, 2020)
• Florida Department of Health Declaration of Public Health Emergency (Mar. 1, 2020)
• Governor Ron DeSantis Activates Emergency Business Damage Assessment Survey for Coronavirus (COVID-19)

FHCA Communications

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

• FHCA Nursing Home Call with Regulatory Partners - Audio Recording (Mar. 27, 2020)

FHCA Email Alerts
Click Here for Archives of FHCA Email Alerts

• 3/31 Alert - CMS Survey Team Florida Site Visits
• 3/31/20 Alert - Medicaid Eligibility Update, CMS Issues Blanket Regulatory Waivers
• 3/28/20 Alert - AHCA Approves Temporary Personal Care Attendant Program/Issues Background Screening Guidance

Guidance and Resources

Restrictions/Screening Tools

• Review the Gov. DeSantis Emergency Order 20-006 Re: Visitation Limits at Residential, Skilled Nursing and Long-term Care Facilities
• AHCA Provider FAQs on Emergency Order 20-006
• Review the updated CMS guidance related to visitor restrictions (issued Mar. 13, 2020)
• Employee Screening Tool / Employee Criteria Not Met Log
• Visitor Screening Tool / Visitor Criteria Not Met Log
• Screener Competency Tool

Transfer/Admissions

• SNF to Hospital Transfer Form
• Hospital to SNF Transfer Form Updated 3-15-20
• Clarification of COVID-19 Guidance Pertaining to Testing and Disposition of Hospital Patients
• Admitting Residents with Respiratory Illness

Health Care Personnel

• Temporary Personal Care Attendant Program: Overview & Facility Training Materials (3/28/20) NEW
• 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
• FL Department of Health Law Enforcement Advisory Re Health Care Staff Travel During Established Curfews
• Sample Facility Letter Re: Essential Health Care Worker (to attach with DOH Law Enforcement letter)
• CDC Guidance on HCP Criteria to Return to Work (3/16/20)

Communal Dining

• AHCA/NCAL Communal Dining Guidance

Personal Protective Equipment

• CDC - How to Properly Put on and Take off a Disposable Respirator NEW
• Emory University School of Medicine ACE / DICE Printable PDFs for donning and doffing PPE NEW
• Mask Conservation Competency / Mask Conservation Guidelines NEW
• CDC Guidance on PPE Listed as Expired
• Video: N95 Mask Fit Testing for Nurses
• Video: Respirator Fit Testing from OSHA
• CDC Healthcare Supply of Personal Protective Equipment
• NIOSH-Approved Particulate Filtering Facepiece Respirators
• Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators: Crisis/Alternate Strategies
• Checklist for Healthcare Facilities: Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators during the COVID-19 Response
• CDC Webinar - Healthcare Systems Preparedness for COVID 19 – Strategies for preparedness and optimizing N95 supplies / Webinar slides
• CDC Guidance for Extended Use and Limited Reuse of N95 respirators in health care settings

Telehealth

• CMS Long-Term Care Nursing Homes Telehealth and Telemedicine Tool Kit

Communication Tools

• Guide: Emergency Preparedness Requires a Communications Plan
• Template Letter to Families Re Confirmed Case
• Sample Letter to Residents & Families Re: Visitation
• Sample Letter to Employees
• CDC Infographics for sharing information quickly and help staff to take actions

Employer Guides

• Applicability of Paid-Leave Provisions in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act
• Addressing the Coronavirus Outbreak – An Employers Guide
• Comprehensive FAQs For Employers On The COVID-19 Coronavirus

Regulatory Updates

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

 COCA Facebook Page

• 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 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

Dept. of Health COVID-19  Conference Call - Aging and Vulnerable Populations
Tuesdays and Thursdays | 4:15 p.m. EST
Limited lines - call in early
888-585-9008
Participant Code: 208-305-233

• Florida Department of Health COVID-19 Updates
• Health Care Practitioner Reporting Guidelines for Reportable Diseases and Conditions in Florida
• Clinical Screening Tool for Identifying Persons Under Investigation for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• 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 are asked to ensure the “Facility Contacts” section is up-to-date and to report Current Resident Census and available beds daily by 10:00 a.m. EST starting Sunday, March 15, until further notice.

• AHCA COVID-19 web page
• AHCA Provider Alert - Facility Site Visits (3/28/20) NEW
• Emergency Status System
• 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 COVID-19 Self-Assessment Infection Control Tool (developed with CDC)
• CMS Prioritization of Survey Activities (QSO-20-20-All, 3/23/20)NEW
• CMS Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Nursing Nomes (QSO-20-14 NH Revised 3/13/20) NEW
• 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

Florida Board of Nursing

• Gov. Ron DeSantis Extends License Renewal Expiration until 5/31/20 for Healthcare Practitioners with Renewal Deadlines Between 3/21-4/30)
• 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

• Resident Laundry Guidance with COVID-19
• 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
• FHCA Business Partner Listing: Telehealth Services
• 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