Jan. 24th COVID-19 Update
New COVID-19-related updates for providers of long-term/post-acute care (LTPAC) and senior services continue to be shared on a regular basis by both state and federal authorities. The latest developments are described below.
As a reminder, LeadingAge NY continues to convene weekly webinars on Mondays at 11 a.m. to address emerging questions on COVID-19. A recording of our most recent webinar, held on Jan. 23rd, is available here, and a list of the items shared by LeadingAge NY staff in the webinar chat can be accessed here. If you have questions for next week’s update or would like the access information, please contact Jeff Diamond.
Cross-Sector Updates
Governor Extends Health Care Workforce Emergency Executive Order
On Jan. 22nd, Governor Hochul extended the health care workforce emergency by issuing Executive Order (EO) 4.17. This EO continues, until Feb. 21st, the workforce flexibilities previously granted to health care providers in EO 4 and EO 4.1. Click here for more information.
Combined Respiratory Infection Dashboards
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a dashboard that visually tracks the prevalence of COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) hospitalizations. The dashboard provides hospitalization rates per 100,000 as a combined total as well as individually for each condition. It allows users to view the data by state or by several other breakouts including age, gender, race, and ethnicity, or across seasons, and is available here. Another dashboard tracking national emergency room use by age for the same set of infections is available here.
Nursing Home Updates
Amended Nursing Home PPE Stockpile Regulations to Be Considered by Public Health and Health Planning Council
The Department of Health (DOH) has released proposed amendments to the nursing home personal protective equipment (PPE) stockpile regulations that calculate required inventory based on average occupancy, rather than certified beds. The draft regulations respond to advocacy by LeadingAge NY for over a year to rationalize nursing home stockpile requirements. Click here for more information.
Nursing Home COVID-19 Infections in January
The number of new COVID-19 infections among residents and staff in nursing homes has remained fairly modest so far in January 2023. After two years where the state experienced significant spikes in cases and hospitalizations in January, the counts of weekly new cases among both residents and staff are low so far in 2023. Through the week ending Jan. 17th, most regions were seeing a decline in new cases, with the exception of Central NY, where the total number of new infections reported for the week was slightly higher than any week prior to mid-December. Statewide, more than two-thirds of nursing homes reported no new resident infections in the week ending Jan. 17th.
Affordable Housing/Independent Living Updates
Reminder: Deadlines Approaching for HUD COVID-19 Supplemental Payments
As a reminder, the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) fifth round of COVID-19 Supplemental Payments (CSPs) are open for request through Feb. 21st, for expenditures completed or committed by Jan. 31st. CSPs can help providers address operating cost increases incurred in preventing, preparing for, or responding to COVID-19 at their properties, including staffing, security, and cleaning costs, as well as some capital costs such as internet or backup generator installation.
LeadingAge National has hosted a series of two CSP “Office Hours” to help answer members’ questions as they prepare to request funds, and updates to its Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) will be coming soon.