October 17th, 2023
COVID-19 Resources
COVID-19 Quick Reference (New Guidance)
From our friends at PharMerica, please go to the following link to get your free and current quick reference guide for Covid-19
July 11th, 2022
July 7, 2022 MCS COVID-19 Stakeholder Information Session
Thank you for your interest in listening to the July 7 Texas Medicaid CHIP COVID-19 Information Session.
The audio from this session can be found here.
The presentation can be found here.
Future meeting notices and information will continue to be shared on these sites, so please check back regularly.
For additional questions, please write to Medicaid_COVID_Questions@hhsc.state.tx.us.
May 8th, 2022
May 5, 2022 MCS COVID-19 Stakeholder Information Session
Thank you for your interest in listening to the May 5 Texas Medicaid CHIP COVID-19 Information Session.
The audio from this session can be found here.
The presentation can be found here.
Future meeting notices and information will continue to be shared on these sites, so please check back regularly.
For additional questions, please write to Medicaid_COVID_Questions@hhsc.state.tx.us.
April 10th, 2022
April 7, 2022 MCS COVID-19 Stakeholder Information Session
Thank you for your interest in listening to the April 7 Texas Medicaid CHIP COVID-19 Information Session.
The audio from this session can be found here.
The presentation can be found here.
Future meeting notices and information will continue to be shared on these sites, so please check back regularly.
For additional questions, please write to Medicaid_COVID_Questions@hhsc.state.tx.us.
January 9th, 2022
January 6, 2022 MCS COVID-19 Stakeholder Information Session
The audio from this session can be found here.
The presentation can be found here.
Future meeting notices and information will continue to be shared on these sites, so please check back regularly.
For additional questions, please write to Medicaid_COVID_Questions@hhsc.state.tx.us.
December 30, 2021
COVID-19 Cases Rise – Guidance for LTC Providers
COVID-19 cases are increasing across Texas. HHSC reminds providers to follow the guidelines listed below and ensure their emergency plan is up-to-date. Staff must be aware of what to do in the event of any sort of emergency, including an outbreak of flu or COVID-19.
Please review the following guidelines and rules:
- COVID-19 mitigation and visitation rules
- Any applicable COVID-19 response plans for your provider type
- Your provider’s own infection prevention and control policies
Find COVID-19 resources on:
- Your provider portal under the COVID-19 Resources section
- The HHSC COVID-19 Provider Information page
Your vigilance following infection control requirements can make a difference in protecting vulnerable Texans.
LTC providers are always required to provide services to residents or clients before, during and after an emergency. The emergency plan or policy must include:
- Planning for staff shortages.
- A backup plan to ensure operations and care of residents or clients continue.
Read program-specific rules related to staffing, emergency preparedness, and infection control.
A checklist (PDF) is available to assist you with creating a plan for dealing with an outbreak of flu or COVID-19.
If you need help with updating your COVID Mitigation Plans within Infection Control Policies or Emergency Evacuation Plans with these new updates to Mitigation of COVID-19, please contact us. We may be able to help you. Contact us at: info@twogetherconsulting.com
December 30th, 2021
Dec. 13 ICF COVID-19 Webinar Recording Available
A recording of the Dec. 13, 2021, ICF/IID COVID-19 Q&A with HHSC LTC Regulation and DSHS is available for those who could not attend.
Listen to the webinar recording here.
Email LTCR Policy for the transcript.
December 29th, 2021
Home and Community-based Services (HCS) and Texas Home Living (TxHmL)
- HCS Visitation Comparison Table (PDF)
- HCS COVID-19 Expanded Visitation Rules (PDF)
- TxHmL COVID-19 Updated Emergency Rules (PDF)
- COVID-19 Response for Home and Community-based Services Residential Providers (PDF)
- Updated COVID-19 FAQs for HCS and TxHmL Providers (PDF)
Additional Guidance and Resources
- Guidance for LTC Facilities Experiencing Staffing Shortages Due to COVID-19 (PDF)
- National Healthcare Safety Network Long Term Care Facility COVID-19 Module Enrollment (PDF)
- Long-term Care COVID-19 Vaccination Options (PDF)
- Attestation for Free COVID-19 Testing Kits for ALF, HCSSA, ICF/IID and NF Providers (PDF)
- Questions and Answers from Long-term Care Facebook Live Discussions Hosted by Sen. Zaffirini (PDF)
- Expanded Visitation in Texas Long-term Care Facilities (PDF)
- HHSC Reminds Long-term Care Providers to Check for Updated COVID-19 Guidance (PDF)
- COVID-19 Vaccination-Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care (PDF)
- COVID-19: Questions and Answers Regarding Facemasks and Respirators (PDF)
Shelter-in-Place and Stay-at-Home Orders for HHSC Providers, Vendors and Contractors
HHSC Provider, Vendor and Provider Contractor Guidance for Shelter-in-Place and Stay-at-Home Orders
All mission-essential workers for HHSC, providers, vendors and contractors whose work cannot be performed through teleworking must continue to report to their work or duty stations, including in areas where local government authorities have issued shelter-in-place or stay-at-home orders. It is critical that workers for HHSC providers, vendors and contractors continue to provide the life-sustaining and lifesaving care and benefits our clients need. It is equally critical that HHSC providers, vendors and contractors provide their workers with a safe and healthy environment in which to work. To protect those workers reporting to HHSC offices and facilities, the agency is requiring additional efforts to sanitize workspaces, implement CDC social distancing measures, and limit face-to-face interaction with clients and patients as much as possible through temporary measures, such as waiving certain interview processes and prohibiting visitors to HHSC-operated and licensed facilities.
For more specific guidance, please contact the particular HHSC program or department your services involve.
Resources
- Strategies to Mitigate Healthcare Personnel Staffing Shortages
- Infection Control Basics: Personal Protective Equipment Webinar
- Provider and Information Letters
- Proper N95 Respirator Use for Respiratory Protection Preparedness
- Helping Residents with Dementia Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 in LTC Communities (PDF)
- Helping Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and Related Conditions Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 (PDF)
November 5th, 2021
Beginning May 6, 2021, HHSC has been posting pre-recorded sessions monthly. These sessions will continue to share information with stakeholders about the implementation of various Medicaid/CHIP flexibilities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. HHSC may return to weekly sessions as needed if there are changes to the public health emergency.
Please click on the link below to hear recorded session from NOV 4 Texas Medicaid CHIP COVID-19 Information Session Webinar
The audio from this session can be found here.
If you need a copy of the transcript or want to download a handout of the presentation, click links below:
The presentation can be found here.
Future meeting notices and information will continue to be shared on these sites, so please check back regularly.
For additional questions, please write to Medicaid_COVID_Questions@hhsc.state.tx.us.
September 15th, 2021
Oct. 4 ICF COVID-19 Webinar with HHSC LTCR
Long-term Care Regulation and the Department of State Health Services provide the latest information on the COVID-19 pandemic and take live questions from participants in this ICF provider webinar. Provider attendance is critical to staying current with COVID-19 requirements and guidance. ICF/IID providers are strongly encouraged to attend this and all COVID-19 webinars with LTCR and DSHS.
Those using Internet Explorer may have difficulties registering for the webinar. Please try another browser such as Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.
October 4, 2021
11 a.m. – noon
Register for the COVID-19 Webinar.
September 15th, 2021
Sept. 13 ICF COVID-19 Webinar Recording Available
A recording of September 13, 2021, ICF/IID COVID-19 Q&A with HHSC LTC Regulation and DSHS is available for those who could not attend.
Listen to the webinar recording here(link is external).
August 30th, 2021
LTC Providers May Request COVID-19 Emergency Support
For Emergency Staffing Support:
The Office of the Governor directed DSHS to use staffing agencies to provide medical personnel from out-of-state to Texas health care facilities to assist in COVID-19 operations.
This support will be available to residential long-term care providers.
-Providers must demonstrate that they have exhausted all other options.
-Also that they have urgent need for assistance before requesting emergency staffing support.
The State is asking that jurisdictions and health care entities be judicious with requests for staffing, as the State will not be able to address all staffing needs, especially as the need for emergency staffing ramps up across the state.
LTC providers are always required to provide services to residents or clients before, during and after an emergency.
The emergency plan must include:
- Planning for staff shortages
- A back-up plan to ensure operations and care of residents continues
For COVID-19 Vaccination, Testing Kits, PPE, Disinfection, and HAI/EPI Support:
Long-term care providers can request:
- COVID-19 mobile vaccine clinics for residents and staff
- BinaxNow testing kits. Read PL 2020-49 for details.
- PPE (providers should exhaust all other options before request)
- Facility cleaning and disinfection
- Healthcare-associated infection and epidemiological support
To Request Support:
To initiate a request for COVID-19 support described above, contact the HHSC LTCR Regional Director in the region where the facility is located.
HHSC LTCR staff are responsible for initiating a State of Texas Assistance Request on behalf of the long-term care provider.
HHSC LTCR staff may request supporting documentation to verify need.
August 15th, 2021
LTC Provider COVID-19 Resource Contacts Have Changed
Federal COVID-19 Local Fiscal Recovery Funds are being distributed to cities and counties throughout Texas. HHSC urges long-term care providers in need of COVID-19 resources to use the following resources:
- Contact your city, county or regional advisory council to find out if resources or funds will be available for health care staffing support, testing services, resident or site assessment, and disinfecting services as these resources are no longer available through HHSC.
- For mobile COVID-19 vaccination needs, call 888-90-TEXAS to ask for a Mobile Vaccination Team to come out to your facility.
- Contact DSHS:
- Reach out to the HHSC Long-Term Care Regulation Regional Director in your region to ask for:
- BinaxNow testing kits. Review PL 2020-49 (PDF) for details.
- Health care-associated infection and epidemiological support.
- COVID-19 vaccine. Providers should go through all other options before this one.
LTC providers can now order COVID-19 therapeutics directly.
July 18th, 2021
August 2 ICF COVID-19 Webinar with HHSC LTCR
Long-term Care Regulation and the Department of State Health Services provide the latest information on the COVID-19 pandemic and take live questions from participants in this ICF provider webinar. Provider attendance is critical to staying current with COVID-19 requirements and guidance. ICF/IID providers are strongly encouraged to attend this and all COVID-19 webinars with LTCR and DSHS.
Those using Internet Explorer may have difficulties registering for the webinar. Please try another browser such as Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.
ICF Provider Webinar
August 2, 2021
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Register for the COVID-19 Webinar.
July 16th, 2021
July 6 ICF COVID-19 Webinar Recording Available
A recording of the June 14, 2021, ICF/IID COVID-19 Q&A with HHSC LTC Regulation and DSHS is available for those who could not attend.
Listen to the webinar recording here(link is external).
May 2021
Building COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Webinar
- Watch the recording and download the slide deck (PDF) from the presentation.
- Download the supplemental handout (PDF) for information and outreach materials you can use to educate your community about the COVID-19 vaccine.
- Download the Vaccinate with Confidence fact sheet (PDF) to learn about CDC tools and technical assistance available to state and territorial health departments to increase COVID-19 vaccine confidence and uptake.
May 12th, 2021
Quality In LTC Conference Online
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Health and Human Services made the decision to move forward with an online Quality in Long-Term Care conference. The conference presentations are available on the HHS Learning Portal, and can be accessed through August 2021. To obtain a certificate of completion, participants must view the selected presentation(s), and complete the associated learning quizzes and course evaluations. The certificate, noting any continuing education hours awarded, can be downloaded from the HHS Learning Portal.
Questions can be emailed to QMP@hhs.texas.gov
From HHSC May Newsletter
COVID-19 updated resources, see link below:
May 6th, 2021
APR 29 MCS COVID-19 Stakeholder Update
The audio from this session can be found here.
The presentation can be found here.
Future meeting notices and information will continue to be shared on these sites, so please check back regularly.
April 17th, 2021
March 18, 2021 MCS COVID-19 Stakeholder Information Session
Thank you for your interest in listening to the March 18 Texas Medicaid CHIP COVID-19 Information Session.
The audio from this session can be found here.
The presentation can be found here.
Future meeting notices and information will continue to be shared on these sites, so please check back regularly.
For additional questions, please write to Medicaid_COVID_Questions@hhsc.state.tx.us.
April 17th, 2021
Reminder: Providers Can Request Free COVID-19 Testing Kits
ALF, HCS, HCSSA, ICF/IID and NF providers in counties where the COVID-19 positivity rate is more than 10 percent can request free COVID-19 testing kits.
The test kits are only to test essential caregivers or HCSSA staff going into an NF or ALF who have direct contact with people receiving hospice services. Providers can request the free BinaxNOW point-of-care antigen COVID-19 test kits by filling out the attestation form (PDF). The attestation form includes instructions for requesting the free COVID-19 testing kits for each eligible provider type.
March 28th, 2021
Free BinaxNOW COVID-19 POC Tests Available for LTC Providers
HHSC, along with the Texas Department of Emergency Management, is expanding the criteria for requesting free BinaxNOW COVID-19 point of care test kits to all the following.
- Nursing facilities
- Assisted living facilities
- Intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disability or related conditions
- Home and community-based services providers
- Home and community support services agencies
Use these free BinaxNOW COVID-19 POC test kits to test anyone including residents, staff and visitors.
Providers must attest to adhere to certain training and reporting requirements and have one of the following.
- Current Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment Certificate of Waiver
- Current CLIA laboratory certificate
Providers must complete and submit an attestation form for free BinaxNOW point-of-care antigen COVID-19 test kits (PDF) to request free BinaxNOW COVID-19 point of care test kits. See revised PL 2020-49 (PDF) for more information. Tests are available while supplies last.
March 22 ICF COVID-19 Webinar with HHSC LTCR
Long-term Care Regulation and the Department of State Health Services provide the latest information on the COVID-19 pandemic and take live questions from participants in this ICF provider webinar. Provider attendance is critical to staying current with COVID-19 requirements and guidance. ICF/IID providers are strongly encouraged to attend this and all bi-weekly COVID-19 webinars with LTCR and DSHS.
Those using Internet Explorer may have difficulties registering for the webinar. Please try another browser such as Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.
ICF Provider Webinar
March 22, 2021
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Register for the COVID-19 Webinar.
Helpful Vaccination Information
Moderna EUA Storage and Handling Instructions (PDF) includes the following:
- Moderna EUA Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers Administering Vaccine (Vaccination Providers)
- Moderna EUA Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers
v-safe After Vaccination Health Checker Instructions (PDF)
Moderna EUA “What to Expect” Card for Healthcare Professionals (PDF)
Moderna EUA “What to Expect” Card for Vaccine Recipients (PDF)
CDC’s Moderna Clinical website is live: Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Information. This website includes the following documents:
- Storage and Handling Summary
- BUD Guidance and Labels
- Storage and Handling Labels
- Vaccine Expiration Date Tracking Tool
- Freezer Storage Loggers (F) and (C)
- Prep and Administration Summary
- Standing Orders Template
CDC Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Resources For Posters For The Facility For Staff & Individuals
AADMD Webinar Series to Return in January 2021
Catch up on the webinars you may have missed.
https://open.texas.gov/
HHSC COVID-19 Provider Information
https://hhs.texas.gov/services/health/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-covid-19-provider-information
Webinar – NHSN November 2020 Updates to LTCF COVID-19 Module Pathways
The National Healthcare Safety Network had updated the Long-term Care Facility COVID-19 Module pathways, specifically the Resident Impact and Facility Capacity and Staff and Personnel Impact. Revised forms, form instructions, and CSV templates are now available on the LTCF COVID-19 Module website.
The webinar will review the November 2020 updates.
Long-term Care Facility Webinar
November 24, 2020
10:00 – 10:45 a.m. CST
See Recording below
DSHS Video on Long-term Care Facilities COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control Now Available
The Department of State Health Services has published a recorded training for long-term care providers on COVID-19 precautions to take and how to accomplish them.
https://www.txdisabilities.org/news-events/coronavirus-information-resources
ANCOR’s COVID-19 Resource Center
https://www.ancor.org/covid-19
CDC information for persons with IDD
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-disabilities.html
Resources from HRS
“As the situation with Coronavirus (COVID-19) develops, HRS is committed to providing those who work in the field of IDD supports with practical, sensible, and usable health information regarding identifying those at most risk and steps that can be taken to reduce the severity of the impact of this disease.”
Below are links to free helpful resources from HRS (Training Videos, Webinars, and Bulletins)
https://hrstonline.com/covid-19-resources/
December 22, 2020
Risk/Benefit Return to Activity Form (Free from our friends at HRS)
This could be very helpful for considerations for returning to work, Day Hab, Volunteer Jobs, etc…
https://hrstonline.com/download/risk-benefit-return-to-activity-form/?wpdmdl=3104&refresh=5fc779cf9f80e1606908367
