Michigan Dept of Health & Human Services LTCF COVID-19 Response Update: COVID Relief Facility Staffing

You are subscribed to Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCF) COVID-19 Response for Michigan Dept of Health & Human Services. This information has recently been updated, and is now available.

 

THIS MESSAGE IS FOR SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES 

Greetings Provider,

MDHHS has released the attached Provider Letter which provides additional guidance and clarification to eligible Nursing Facilities on the Minimum Participation Criteria to become designated as a COVID-Relief Facility (Tier 1 and Tier 2).

MINIMUM PARTICIPATION CRITERIA

Nursing facilities must meet the following criteria to qualify for CR Facility designation:

• Has a designated COVID-positive area (designated area can include a portion of a unit, wing, or separate building)
• Has dedicated staff to serve only COVID-positive residents
• Has an adequate supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Has adequate testing capabilities to comply with any MDHHS orders or CMS requirements

DEDICATED STAFFING CRITERIA DEFINED

COVID-Relief Facilities - Tier 1: Dedicated staffing is considered met when the NF can designate staff to ensure resident care needs are met while mitigating the risk of cross contamination. Designate means a staff person will work from standard precautions to transmission-based precautions with high emphasis on infection prevention practices such as proper use of personal protective equipment, hand hygiene, and cleaning/disinfection. While a minimum number of staff must be present on the unit at all times to ensure safety of COVID-positive residents on transmission-based precautions, some care team members could be designated to support resident care needs.

COVID-Relief Facilities - Tier 2: Dedicated staffing is considered met when the NF can devote staff to work on their COVID-positive unit by shift to serve only COVID-positive residents. NFs designated as CRF Tier 2 must be able to devote adequate staff to their COVID-positive unit to ensure the NF is able to safely admit new COVID-positive residents as community conditions may necessitate.

The additional functional criteria outlined within the Letter does not remove, replace, or otherwise diminish infection control standards outlined in MSA Policy 21-40. An electronic version of the Letter is available at www.michigan.gov/medicaidproviders >> Policy, Letters & Forms.

COVID-Relief Facility applications are available under CRC and CRF Programs dropdown on Coronavirus - Long Term Care COVID-19 Plan.

Questions may be submitted to: MDHHS-iPRAT@michigan.gov

 

Please see associated resources attached below:

• Numbered_Letter_L_21-85.pdf