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.”
CMS COVID-19 Stakeholder Engagement Calls – July CMS hosts varied recurring stakeholder engagement sessions to share information related to the agency’s response to COVID-19. These sessions are open to members of the healthcare community and are intended to provide updates, share best practices among peers, and offer attendees an opportunity to ask questions of CMS … [Read more]
Assisted Living Facilities Receive “Very Different” Treatment From Government Than Nursing Homes, and other important COVID-19 updates AHCA/NCAL NEWS Assisted Living Facilities Receive “Very Different” Treatment From Government Than Nursing Homes, Advocates Say ABC News (6/29, Pecorin, 2.97M) reports, “While nursing homes and assisted living facilities perform many of the same functions in service of … [Read more]
AL Communities At “Significant Disadvantage” In Fighting COVID-19 Without Government Assistance AHCA/NCAL NEWS Assisted Living Communities At “Significant Disadvantage” In Fighting COVID-19 Without Government Assistance, Tittle Says Provider Magazine (6/22, Connole, 151K) reports on the findings of NCAL’s recent survey which discovered “more than half of assisted living communities possess less than a two-week supply … [Read more]
UPDATED Resources! Complimentary COVID-19 Resources and More! Updated! Interim Policy for Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 (Coronavirus) To support your organization as you respond to COVID-19 and prepare for the re-opening process, Pathway Health has updated numerous resources, including the Interim Policy for Suspected or Confirmed Coronavirus. This resource provides leaders an overview Policy for COVID-19 (Coronavirus) … [Read more]
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Strategies for COVID Care Topic: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Strategies for COVID Care Date: Thursday, June 25, 2020 Time: 4:00 – 5:00 PM ET Advance Registration Required: Register here. Note: Once you register, you will receive an email with your individual link to join the webcast. The link you receive will only work for … [Read more]