COVID-19 Information

Coronavirus

As concerns arise with emerging coronavirus, officially named COVID-19, we are working national, state and local health departments to ensure our members receive necessary supplies and guidance to prevent the spread of this disease.

For Providers

Please note that skilled nursing providers should consult the guidance put forth by CMS and the CDC, and assisted living communities can consult AHCA/NCAL’s guidance. Providers should also check their local and state health departments for updates and potentially stricter guidance, but these are general, national prevention and containment tips:

Infection Control – Maintain infection control policies and procedures, updated where needed and increase transmission-based precautions. If you have any infection control questions you can direct those to the EPIC hotline at 602-241-4644 or email EPIC@azhca.org.

Staff – Remind staff about hand hygiene and proper use of PPE. Tell them to stay home if they’re sick. Screen all personnel coming into the building.

Limit Interactions – Restrict all non-essential visitors and group activities. Implement social distancing within the facility.

PPE – Reserve your current supply if you’re running low. Ask for help from local officials and document requests.

Communicate – Report suspected or confirmed cases to local and state authorities. Keep residents, families and staff informed about your developing situation and prepare for media inquiries.

Engagement – Keep residents connected with loved ones remotely and stimulated with meaningful activities adapted for this situation.
If a staff member shows symptoms of COVID-19 – Have them go home immediately.

If a resident shows symptoms of COVID-19 – Implement droplet precaution, and contact the local health department.

For Families and Friends

Coronavirus (COVID-19) poses a serious threat to older adults (especially 80 years old and older) and those with underlying health conditions. This is why the federal government and many state governments are restricting visitors to nursing homes and assisted living communities. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis for end-of-life visits. We understand this is difficult, but the safety and wellbeing of your loved one is our top priority.

Here’s how you can continue to stay in touch with them, and how you can help:

Communicate with your loved ones through alternative ways for the time being, whether by phone, video, social media, or other methods. Ask the facility about ways they can help with this.
Make sure your loved one’s facility has your emergency contact information. The facility may need to communicate with you about any developments regarding your loved one or about the facility as a whole.
If you must come to the facility, such as a loved one is near end-of-life, coordinate with the staff ahead of time.
1. They may ask you some questions before or when your arrive. This is to make sure you do not pose as a potential risk to residents and staff.
2. If you are asked to not enter the building, please understand this is for the safety of your loved one and everyone else in the building. Nursing homes and assisted living communities are following direction from the government to prevent the spread of this virus.
3. If you are permitted in, please wash your hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer immediately upon entering and throughout your visit. Avoid touching your loved ones or other individuals in the building. Again, we know this is difficult, but the virus is very contagious and social distancing is important at this time
Warn your loved ones about potential scammers during this crisis and encourage them to be cautious.

For Residents and Patients

Coronavirus (COVID-19) poses a serious threat to older adults (especially 80 years old and older) and those with underlying health conditions. This is why the federal government and many state governments are restricting visitors to nursing homes and assisted living communities. We understand this is a difficult and stressful time. Those who work in long term care facilities are focused on your safety and wellbeing.

Here’s how you can continue to stay in touch with your loved ones, and how you can help:

Ask the facility about other ways you can communicate with your loved ones, whether by phone, video or social media.
Video Messages geared toward family members and residents
- Message for Families & Friends: Share on YouTube | Direct download
- Message Residents & Patients: Share on YouTube | Direct download
Follow everyday preventive actions such as:
1. Washing your hands or using alcohol-based hand sanitizers
2. Covering your cough and sneezes
Ask other individuals (including staff) to avoid touching you with handshakes, hugs or kisses. Ask them to wash their hands. Do not be shy! It’s okay to remind people.
If you begin to experience a sore throat, coughing, sneezing or a fever, tell a staff member immediately.

COVID-19 After Action Report

AHCA/NCAL has developed an AAR / Improvement Plan template that can be used to appropriately document a facility’s response to the COVID- 19 PHE. Without proper documentation, surveyors may not give a facility credit for the community-wide, full-scale exercise equivalency. It is critical for facility’s to complete the template and not simply present the document to surveyors without customization.

View Template

COVID-19 FAQs

Download PDF (updated March 25, 2020)

Guidance & Resources

Maricopa County Department of Public Health

Quarantine Guidance – English

Quarantine Guidance – Spanish

AHCA/NCAL

CDC

Overview of COVID-19

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

FAQs

Prevention Resources

Strategies to Prevent COVID-19 Spread in Long Term Care Facilities

Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Healthcare Settings

Reporting Resources

LTCF COVID-19 Module

Evaluating and Reporting Persons Under Investigation (PUI)

Health Care Facility Resources

Resources for Health Care Facilities

Health Care Infection Control Guidelines

Clinical Care Guidance

Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) Calls & Webinars

Disposition of Non-Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19

Criteria for Return to Work for Healthcare Personnel

Communication Resources

CDC’s Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC)

CERC in an Infectious Disease Outbreak

CMS

Memos & Guidance

LTC Facility Testing Requirements and Revised COVID19 Focused Survey Tool
QSO Memo 20-38 issued August 26, 2020

Updating Requirements for Reporting of SARS-CoV-2 Test Results by Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) Laboratories
QSO Memo 20-37-CLIA, NH issued August 26, 2020

Requirements for Notification of COVID-19 Cases Among Residents and Staff in Nursing Homes
CMS is requiring nursing homes to report COVID-19 facility data to the CDC and to residents, their representatives, and families of residents. This memo also includes updated survey tools and a FAQ on new reporting requirements.

Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Nursing Homes – Guidance on: screening visitors and who should be restricted; screening employees and contractors and who should be asked to stay at home; when patients should be managed in the facility vs sent to the hospital; what to do when transferring residents with suspected COVID-19, and; what criteria to use in accepting patients from the hospital with COVID-19.
Prioritization of Survey Activities – Announces that CMS will re-prioritize surveys to conduct focus surveys about infection control for facilities that have had an infection control deficiency in the past to assure that they are in compliance with the new regulations.
Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention Concerning Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): FAQs and Considerations for Patient Triage, Placement and Hospital Discharge – Guidance to hospitals on screening visitors, employees and when to admit and discharge residents.

Resources

COVID-19 Focused Survey for Nursing Homes – A zip file from CMS with updated survey forms in the COVID-19 Focused Survey subfolder. Providers should use the revised “COVID-19 Focused Survey for Nursing Homes” to perform their self-assessment.
1135 Waiver Request (AHCA Template) – Providers unable to meet certain federal requirements due to COVID-19 should file an individual 1135 waiver for flexibility with regulations that cannot be met due to shortages in capacity or resources such as staffing or that conflict with other guidance, needs, and expectations during the pandemic.
Long-Term Care Nursing Homes Telehealth and Telemedicine Tool Kit

Testing