Long-term care provider associations met with the Department of Health (DOH) on Mon., Nov. 13^th for updates.

Significantly, DOH announced that it will be substantially reducing the number of questions (from 75 to 17) on the daily Health Electronic Response Data System (HERDS) survey beginning Tues., Nov. 14^th. The survey will continue to be required on a daily basis. In addition, nursing homes will continue to be asked to complete personal protective equipment (PPE) questions on the first Tuesday of each month. DOH staff highlighted the following changes:

• Vaccination questions were updated;
• Fatality questions were modified;
• For nursing homes, questions eliciting the number of staffed beds were added.

LeadingAge NY is aware that it is disappointing that the survey will continue on a daily basis. We will continue to advocate for a more streamlined approach.

The Department also announced the following news:

• Andrew Lebwohl, Director of the Center for Aging and Long-Term Care Finances and Supports in the Office of Aging and Long-Term Care (OALTC), has been appointed as Director of the newly established Center for Master Plan for Aging.
• Other new centers within DOH will soon be established, including:
  • The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care
  • The Center for Long-Term Care Workforce
  • The Center for Home and Community-Based Services
• The Department is working on developing the following training resources for providers:
  • Efficiency and Compliance – Best Practices
  • Quality Assurance
  • Vital Access Provider Assurance Program (VAPAP) Funding

If members have questions about the HERDS survey, please feel free to share them with us, as well as with the covidnursinghomeinfo@health.ny.gov mailbox.

Contact: Meg Everett, meverett@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8871