It has come to our attention that many assisted living/senior living communities are doing their own COVID-19 testing on staff and residents. Please be aware in order to administer these tests you MUST apply for and obtain a CLIA WAIVER. A template for CLIA WAIVER policy and procedure is attached as are the required application forms. You may add that anyone performing the point of care tests should be skill validated for the specific device that will be used, with return demonstration, and the documentation for that training placed in their employee file.
It is advised you check with your company or corporate office before submitting the attached application.
Although it is a federal form (CMS116) the states process the forms and some have additional requirements. Check with the state agency listed in the attachment to ascertain what else you might need.
You should estimate around 6-12 weeks for processing.
If you have any questions PLEASE use the contact form on alnursing.org to contact a board member.
The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) released the following statement in response to the recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve booster shots of the Moderna and Janssen (Johnson and Johnson) COVID-19 vaccines for certain individuals, including residents and health care workers in long term care.
The following statement is attributable to David Gifford, MD, chief medical officer of AHCA/NCAL:
“Once again, we appreciate the FDA and CDC for thoroughly examining the data and following the science to help protect Americans, including our nation’s most vulnerable, from COVID-19. All long term care residents and staff members will now be eligible to receive a booster shot thanks to these expanded recommendations.
“Additionally, the ability to mix-and-match vaccines for the booster dose will make it easier for long term care facilities to swiftly access these vaccines for their residents and staff.
“The rollout of the Pfizer booster shot has gone incredibly well in long term care, and we are confident that adding Moderna and Johnson and Johnson into the mix will catapult our efforts. We appreciate the partnership of federal and state governments, as well as long term care pharmacies and other vaccine providers, to make these vaccination efforts in nursing homes and assisted living communities efficient and successful.”
On May 5, 2021, as a part of CMS’ ongoing COVID response efforts to support the long term care community, we debuted our first social media videos highlighting staff, also referred to as Community Champions, who moved from being initially uncertain about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine to accepting the vaccine– and encouraging their peers to … [Read more]
Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine and Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS): Update for Clinicians You may participate in this COCA Call via Zoom Overview This COCA Call will present the latest evidence on thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) after administration of the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. Speakers will discuss information on TTS and updated … [Read more]
Preparing for business after the main COVID-19 storm As optimism about outlasting the COVID-19 pandemic continues to grow, senior housing and care operators must carefully navigate the coming months — and beyond. Their focus must remain strong on successful workforce, infection control and electronic record issues. They also need solid strategies regarding reimbursement, rehab and … [Read more]
Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 Vaccine Update Wednesday, April 28 at 3:00 PM ET Register View Promo Video Below As of April 21, 2021, 213 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in the United States using the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccines. Dr. Nina Ahmad, US Medical Affairs Director for Janssen’s COVID-19 … [Read more]
Reframing the Senior Living Journey: Tools for Enriching the Customer Experience Wednesday, May 5, 2021 11:00 AM PT / 12:00 PM MT / 1:00 PM CT / 2:00 PM ET As our market strives to accelerate move-ins and increase occupancy, many senior living organizations are laser-focused on improving the customer journey through sales and marketing … [Read more]