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KDHE’s Nursing Facility Metrics should be used by facilities to determine testing frequency. Facilities were previously instructed to switch to KDHE’s school gating metrics on or before 10/12/2020. KDADS will be amending those instructions to reflect that facilities should use the nursing home metrics from KDHE.

KDADS would also advise adult care homes to utilize this data when making facility re-opening and visitation plans. The direct link to this information is: https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas

To view the KDADS long-term care survey staff COVID-19 testing and PPE usage guidance, download the document KDADS SCC Surveyor PPE and Testing Policy 4.6.21.

Summary

CMS is committed to continuing to take critical steps to ensure America’s healthcare facilities are prepared to respond to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency (PHE). Get the latest information on nursing home visitation during COVID-19 here: https://www.cms.gov/nursing-homes/patients-caregivers/covid-19

• Visitation Guidance:
  • May 10, 2021, KDADS issued revised guidance for long-term care facilities: Long Term Care Visitation Guidance Update 5.7.21
  • April 27, 2021, CMS issued revised guidance QSO-20-39-NH-REVISED for nursing home visitation.
  • March 15, 2021, KDADS issued revised guidance for long-term care facilities: Long Term Care Visitation Guidance Update 3.15.21. (See infographic on the right)
  • March 10, 2021, CMS issued new guidance QSO-20-39-NH Revised for visitation in nursing homes during the COVID-19 PHE, including the impact of COVID-19 vaccination.
  • On October 21, 2020, KDADS issed new guidance for long-term care facilities in the state:Visitation Guidance for Long Term Care Settings.
  • On September 17, 2020, CMS issued new guidance QSO-20-39-NH for visitation in nursing homes during the COVID-19 PHE to provide reasonable ways a nursing home can safely facilitate in-person visitation to address the psychosocial needs of residents.
    
    
• Use of Civil Money Penalty (CMP) Funds: CMS will now approve the use of CMP funds to purchase tents for outdoor visitation and/or clear dividers (e.g., Plexiglas or similar products) to create physical barriers to reduce the risk of transmission during in-person visits.

Background

In March 2020, CMS issued memorandum QSO-20-14-NH providing guidance to facilities on restricting visitation of all visitors and non-essential health care personnel, except for certain compassionate care situations, such as an end-of-life. In May 2020, CMS released Nursing Home Reopening Recommendations, which provided additional guidance on visitation for nursing homes as their states and local communities progress through the phases of reopening.

The Legislature passed HB 2016 during the 2020 Special Session requiring KDADS to complete infection control inspections for all nursing facilities, state licensed facilities, assisted living facilities, Home Plus and Adult Board and Care homes within 90 days of the effective date of the bill. HB 2016 also requires KDADS provide the necessary PPE, sanitizing supplies and testing kits appropriate to the needs of each facility on an ongoing basis, based upon the current number of residents; the current number of full-time and part-time staff members; the number of residents and staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days; the ability to separate COVID-19 residents from non-COVID-19 residents; and any other factors deemed relevant by the Secretary of KDADS. The agency is in the process of evaluating the logistics of supplying PPE, supplies and testing kits through existing supply channels at KDHE and KDEM.

KDADS is planning a survey of adult care homes and nursing facilities to gather information from facilities about their PPE supplies, ability to purchase or use the KDEM distribution process, and adequacy of staffing levels and access to COVID-19 testing supplies.

KDADS leadership is organizing the efforts of the 50 certified surveyors and seven state licensed facility surveyors to conduct all the required infection control surveys by the 90-day deadline in HB 2016. CMS requires Kansas to complete infection control surveys in the CMS certified facilities by July 31. To meet that deadline, KDADS has entered an emergency contract with a consulting firm that can supply certified surveyors to complete infection control surveys, while having enough capacity to conduct follow-up surveys, respond to repeat outbreaks and conduct surveys for abuse and neglect complaints.

July 17, 2020 - Secretary Laura Howard announced today that KDADS has completed focused infection control surveys (FICS) in all federally certified nursing facilities in the state as required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services more than two weeks ahead of the federal deadline. Full story: bit.ly/2ONlzUx.

August 17,2020 - KDADS is pleased to announce infection controls surveys have been conducted in all Adult Care Homes in Kansas. Below you will find a special edition of our deficiency free survey list to reflect this special survey activity.

This is preliminary data and will fluctuate as it is updated and reported each week. As the number of facilities submitting reports increases each week, the reported number of COVID-19 cases, suspected cases, and/or deaths each week may increase.

CMS Nursing Home Dataset

Average Cases Per 1,000 Residents 

 

Average Deaths Per 1,000 Residents

The Nursing Home COVID-19 data reported by nursing homes to the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) system COVID-19 Long Term Care Facility Module, including Resident Impact; Facility Capacity, Staff and Personnel and Supplies and Personal Protective Equipment; and Ventilator Capacity and Supplies Data Elements.More information on CMS requirements for reporting COVID-19 information can be found here.

We note that the presence of cases of COVID-19 in a nursing home does not automatically indicate noncompliance with federal requirements. This information is used to assist with national surveillance of COVID-19 in nursing homes, and support actions to protect the health and safety of nursing home residents.

Under authority granted by Executive Order No. 20-23, KDADS has responded to submissions from more than 50 facilities to create designated units, stand up alternate care sites, or otherwise change practices to ensure isolation of possible COVID-19 patients.Facilites self-identify their COVID-19 response efforts based on two overarching categories: 1) Alternate Care Site (ACS) or 2) Designated Facility/Unit (DFU). A subcategory of Designated Facility/Unit includes 3) Change in Bed Classification (CBC).

An Alternate Care Site is an option available to facilities based on guidance from CMS; structures of opportunity created to provide a safe and comfortable setting where patients can be isolated and monitored during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Designated Facility/Unit is an option available to facilities based on guidance from CMS dated April 2, 2020; purpose is to avoid transmission within long-term care facilities by designating separate facilities or units within a facility to separate COVID-19 negative residents from COVID-19 positive residents and individuals with unknown COVID-19 status. KDADS created a subcategory of the Designated Facility/Unit, called Change in Bed Classification, to accommodate requests whereby facilities are indicating their plan is to convert an office space or other common space to a designated unit.

Numbers by region, as of August 24:

Region	ACS	DFU	CBC	DFU/A	Grand Total
NE	2	7	5	22	36
NW	3	3	6	8	20
SE	2	2	2	17	23
SW	5	5	3	9	22
Grand Total	12	17	16	48	101