A Message for PHA Members...

PHA is committed to staying connected with members as we all navigate these unprecedented times. But for now, we simply want to say THANK YOU. Thank you to the nurses, therapists, administrators, direct care workers, aides, chaplains, social workers, managers, schedulers, and everyone working to bring care home to the people who need it most.

Regulatory Updates

PA 1135 Waiver For Medicaid Flexibility Approved

Pennsylvania's request for a 1135 waiver for Medicaid flexibility during the Coronavirus emergency has been approved by CMS. Click here to view the approval notice. It is important to note that the mere “approval” of the waiver does not change requirements; DHS must still take action to use the authority granted by the waiver.

The waiver applies to the Medicaid Fee-for-Service Program, HealthChoices managed care for physical and behavioral health services, Community HealthChoices (CHC), Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waivers, and others. 

Click here to view the letter of request and here to review the checklist.

Temporary CHC Changes

DHS announced temporary changes to the CHC waiver to accommodate potential issues with staffing and services during the COVID-19 crisis. One of the changes allows spouses, legal guardians and POAs to serve as paid direct care workers when scheduled workers are not available due to COVID-19. PHA confirmed with OLTL that this applies to consumers under BOTH the agency model AND the comsumer-directed model. 

Quality Reporting Relief for HH, Hospice

This afternoon, CMS announced quality reporting program relief for providers, including home health and hospice. Click for details. 

DOS Suspends Some Nurse Licensing

The Department of State has suspended certain administrative requirements for nurses, including temporarily extending license expiration dates and waiving associated fees during the coronavirus emergency. Click for details. On March 27, the State Board of Nursing added additional temporary waivers.

CMS Issues Face-to-Face Guidance

CMS issued guidance permitting physicians to conduct face-to-face encounters for home health via telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic under the expansion of telehealth under the 1135 waiver.

DOH Guidance on Facilities

The Department of Health provided guidance for nursing facilities in conjunction with CMS guidance issued last week. DOH clarified that “home health” and “hospice services” SHOULD NOT be restricted access to the facility. OLTL has instructed Assisted Living Facilities and Personal Care Homes to follow the same guidance.

CMS Waiver/Regulatory Relief Summary

The Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare has shared an updated document on the status of current CMS waivers and relief measures. The list includes the status of face to face via telehealth, RAPs, use of virtual/telephonic home health visits, homebound status, PPE, and more. Click here to view the document as of March 25.

Provider Issues and Concerns

Unemployment Compensation FAQs for Employers

According to guidance from the state Department of Labor and Industry, employees affected by a business closure, reduction in hours, or a medically or government directed quarantine or isolation may file for unemployment compensation (UC) benefits if no other compensation, such as paid leave, is available to them. The department has developed a list of FAQs for employers.

COS-C Grace Period for Coders

OASIS Answers, Inc. announced it is extending a temporary grace period for COS-C testing. For those certificate holders who have renewal dates between March 31 and July 31, the three-year COS-C designation will be extended for up to an additional six months after the expiration date, as long as PRIOR to the expiration date, the individual has registered for either a Paper & Pencil exam, or Computer Based Testing, and successfully completed testing within six months of their expiration date. The renewal discount will be available for either renewal option. 

Homecare IS Healthcare

PHA is aware that some agencies are being turned away from assisted living and other facilities when they arrive to provide care and services to consumers. If this happens to your agency, please direct your workers to readily show their ID badge and refer to guidance from the Secretary of Health which defined “essential services and sectors,” including healthcare. As homecare providers, we are not there as visitors, but rather as healthcare providers. PHA drafted a sample letter that agencies can customize and provide to their workers caring for patients and consumers in facilities.

Flexibility for Form I-9 compliance

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it will defer the requirement for employers to review, in person, Form I-9 documents. The change applies only to those employers that have instituted remote work. The physical documentation review requirements will not be excused if any employees are physically present at a work location. Click for details.  

EVV Delayed Until October 

DHS announced it is shifting the implementation date for electronic visit verification (EVV) to October 1 in light of the COVID-19 crisis.

NEW! HHAeXchange Adds Set of COVID-19 Missed Visit Reasons 

HHAeXchange, in coordination with the Pennsylvania MCOs, has added a new set of COVID-19 Missed Visit Reasons. With these new Missed Visit reasons, Pennsylvania providers can better track and understand issues associated with COVID-19. These new reasons have been automatically enabled in the system and you can begin using them immediately.

Updates on PHA Events and Conferences

PHA is continuously monitoring the impact of the coronavirus and its potential impact on scheduled events and conferences. Check back frequently for updates about our upcoming events. The health and welfare of our members, as well as the patients and consumers you serve, is our top priority.

PHA Advocacy Day

• PHA has made the decision to CANCEL Advocacy Day at the state Capitol in Harrisburg on April 7. The health and welfare of our members, as well as the patients and consumers you serve, is the number one priority for all of us. We are committed to staying focused on the crisis and being your voice at the table every day with DOH, CDC, CMS, and other emergency preparedness leaders. Stay tuned for updates. 

PDGM Summit

• NEW! Virtual PDGM Summit Dates Announced! More information is now available for the Virtual PDGM Summit. Four session times will be offered: 
• April 28, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., EST
• April 28, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., CST
• April 29, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., MST
• April 29, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., PST

PHA ANNUAL CONFERENCE

• PHA has made the difficult decision to postpone the 2020 Annual Conference in Lancaster indefinitely. We understand that this affects many people, from members who were planning to attend, to presenters, to exhibitors. We will be in touch in the coming days with additional details for those who have registered.

Regional Health Care Coalitions

PPE Requests

There is a severe shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) across the state AND the country. The limited supplies that are available are being prioritized first to those locations with confirmed COVID-19 patients. Since there are now no supplies available at the regional levels, agencies in need of PPE should complete a Resource Request Form and submit it to your county emergency management contact. There are no guaranteed supplies, availability is based on triaged need. 

HAP COVID-19 Guidance Calls

PHA members are invited to participate in weekly guidance calls with the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania to learn the latest updates. The call schedule and login info is below:

• Statewide Update: Mondays at 1:00 p.m.
  Call: 1-929-436-2866
  Meeting ID: 621414465#
• Post-Acute Care Services ONLY Update: Tuesdays at 1:00 p.m.
  Call: 1-929-436-2866
  Meeting ID: 621414465#
• Hospitals & Acute Services ONLY Update: Thursdays at 1:00 p.m.
  Call: 1-929-436-2866
  Meeting ID: 621414465#

Outreach to Regional Coalitions

PHA members are encouraged to contact regional coalitions to sign up for updates and situation reports from Pennsylvania's emergency preparedness leaders. 

• Pennsylvania Emergency Management Contacts
• PA Health Care Coalition – Groupsite Links
• East Central PA Healthcare Coalition – ECHCC
• Healthcare Coalition of Southwestern PA – HCSWPA
• NE Health Care Coalition – NEHCC
• North Central PA Healthcare Coalition – NCHCC
• NW / NWC Health Care Coalition – NWHCC
• South Central Mountains Healthcare Coalition - SCMHCC
• South Central PA Healthcare Coalition- SCHCC
• Southeast Regional Healthcare Coalition – SEHCC

COVID-19 Check-In

Fridays at 12 p.m.
                                        

No time to keep up with all of the week's changes and news? Hard to find time for much of anything beyond today's emergencies? Join PHA this Friday - and every Friday during the COVID-19 Crisis - for a quick rundown of the week's top news. Click here for more details & to register. Note: This is a members only webinar series. 

COVID-19: What Pennsylvania Home Health and Hospice Providers Need to Know Today

April 6, 2020
  
                  

Join PHA and Diane Link, RN, MHA, Owner of Link Healthcare Advantage for a webinar focused on Pennsylvania’s implementation of CMS' 1135 waivers, guidance for implementing and documenting telehealth, quality reporting changes, OASIS timeline requirements, Accelerated Payment Requests and more! Click here for more details & to register.