Here is your one-stop location for all things COVID-19 in Kansas related to nursing homes and other aging-related healthcare providers. This page contains the latest information and links to other trusted resources and tools. As the situation continues to change, we have created an archives page that houses all older news and information for easy access.

Latest News and Updates

Join LeadingAge Kansas on our weekly member call to talk all things COVID-19:

• Fri, Apr 10, 2020 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM CDT.

KDHE

• New! 4-8-2020 There are 1046 Cases of COVID-19 Now Reported in KS
• FALSE RUMOR: National Guard is NOT Mobilizing. The Kansas Division of Emergency reports that a letter is going around social media saying the Department of Homeland Security is mobilizing the National Guard. This is false. Please let others know about this fake letter so we can  #SpreadFactsNotFear. #StoptheRumors #KSRumorWatch
• 3-18-2020 Kansas Health Care PPE Request Process
• Report Suspected Cases to 24/7 KDHE Epidemiology Hotline 1-877-427-7317
• Make sure you are connected to your local health care coalition.
• See archived information for KDHE

• 3-31-2020 Revised Guidance for Kansas HCBS Waiver Programs for Brain Injuries
• 3-24-2020 Guidance for Training Programs for Certified Nurse Aides
• See archived information for KDADS

FIRE MARSHAL

• New! 4-7-2020 Fire Marshal announces virtual surveys for assisted living and other state-licensed facilities

CMS

• 4-6-2020 Management of laundry, food service utensils, and medical waste should also be performed in accordance with routine procedures.
• 4-3-2020 COVID-19 Long-Term Care Facility Guidance April 2, 2020
• 4-3-2-20 Updated Medicaid FAQs.
• 4-3-2020 Summary of CMS nursing home calls on 4-2-2020 Covered topics include CNA training/certification, staff with multiple jobs, hiring issues, converting buildings, FEMA, and PBJ.  
• 4-1-2020 CMS Approves KS Waiver Request for Home and Community Based Services and Emergency Preparedness and Response from Section K. View the Letter. View the Combined Waiver.
• 3-29-2020 LeadingAge March 29 HUD Regulatory Relief and Streamlining Requests
• 3-29-2020 Filing Deadline Extended for Cost Reports for Fiscal Year End (FYE) December 31, 2019
• See archived information for CMS

CDC

• Everyone is now expected to wear a mask per CDC guidelines. The CDC put out directions on how to make a homemade mask as well as laundering guidelines for them.
• 4-3-2020 Assisted Living/Nursing Home Webinar. CDC posted a webinar yesterday, “Preparing Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities for COVID-19,” describing actions people in these two settings can take to protect staff and residents from infection.
• 4-3-2020 How to disinfect a work site. CDC posted “Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Worksite” yesterday.  It includes information about cleaning and disinfecting a building or facility if someone is sick.
• 3-27-2020 Asymptomatic and Presymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infections in Residents of a Long-Term Care Skilled Nursing Facility — King County, Washington, March 2020
• 3-27-2020 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Burn Rate Calculator
• 3-25-2020 Preparing for COVID-19: Long-term Care Facilities, Nursing Homes includes a preparedness checklist, Interim Guidance for Nursing Homes, things facilities should do now, what to do when there are cases in the community, and what to do when there are cases in the facility.
• CDC has a clearinghouse for all information related to COVID-19. Check daily for updates and information
• See archived information for CDC

Information from LeadingAGe Kansas

New! 4-8-2020 We are getting lots of questions about PPE use. On April 2, 2020 CMS released new guidance that addresses PPE use.  The current recommendations are quoted below.

“Long-term care facilities should ensure all staff are using appropriate PPE when they are interacting with patients and residents, to the extent PPE is available and per CDC guidance on conservation of PPE.

• For the duration of the state of emergency in their State, all long-term care facility personnel should wear a facemask while they are in the facility.
• Full PPE should be worn per CDC guidelines for the care of any resident with known or suspected COVID-19 per CDC guidance on conservation of PPE.
• If COVID-19 transmission occurs in the facility, healthcare personnel should wear full PPE for the care of all residents irrespective of COVID-19 diagnosis or symptoms.
• Patients and residents who must regularly leave the facility for care (e.g., hemodialysis patients) should wear facemasks when outside of their rooms.
• When possible, all long-term care facility residents, whether they have COVID-19 symptoms or not, should cover their noses and mouths when staff are in their room. Residents can use tissues for this. They could also use cloth, non-medical masks when those are available. Residents should not use medical facemasks unless they are COVID-19-positive or assumed to be COVID-19-positive.” (CMS, April 2, 2020, p. 2)

• 4-6-2020 KING COVID-19 Incident Report – sharing with all members
• 4-2-2020 This letter outlines the updated requests the associations have made to Governor Kelly. We are waiting to hear back about approval.
• 3-30-2020 Long Term Care State Waiver Request: A Joint Association Letter from LeadingAge Kansas, KHCA & KACE

COVID-19-Specific Education

• April 9, 2020 | 1-1:30 PM | Webinar: OSHA - Respiratory Protection Plan
• April 14, 2020 1-2 PM | Webinar: Suicide and Self-Harm in the Elder Resident
• April 29, 2020 1:00 – 2:00 PM | Webinar: QSEN and COVID 
• 4-3-2020 Weekly COVID-19 Update Webinar. Here is the PowerPoint.
• 3-27-2020 Weekly COVID-19 Update Webinar. Download PowerPoint.
• 3-20-2020  Weekly COVID-19 Update Webinar.

Information from LeadingAge National

• New! 4-8-2020 HUD Staff Review New COVID-19 Funding, Other Issues
• New! 4-8-2020 LeadingAge Urges IRS to Protect Housing Credit Residents and Providers
• New! 4-8-2020 USDA Rural Development Updates FAQs
• New! 4-8-2020 COVID 19 Stimulus Bill Facility Impact Calculators Explainer Document
• New! 4-8-2020 COVID 19 Stimulus Bill Facility Impact Calculator Part A
• New! 4-8-2020 COVID 19 Stimulus Bill Facility Impact Calculator
• 4-7-2020 Hot Topic: How to Manage Dependent Care in Independent Living.
• 4-7-2020 Hot Topic: Crisis Workforce Management.
• 4-7-2020 Hot Topic: How Are Members Managing Residents Who Leave and Return to Campus?  
  
• 4-7-2020 Hot Topic: How to Modify Service Delivery?
• 4-7-2020 Hot Topic: Do We Continue New Moves into Our Community?
• 4-7-2020 LeadingAge Urges IRS to Protect Housing Credit Residents and Providers.
• 4-7-2020 USDA Rural Development Updates FAQs.
• 4-6-2020 LeadingAge letters to Congressional leaders detailing all asks for the continuum of long-term services and supports,adult day services, and hospice.
• 4-6-2020 LeadingAge requests $34 billion for aging services from the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund
• 4-6-2020 LeadingAge letters to Congressional leaders detailing all asks for the continuum of long-term services and supports,adult day services, and hospice.
• 4-6-2020 LeadingAge Statement on CMS’ April 2, 2020 Key Recommendations to Nursing Homes, State, Local Governments
• 4-6-2020 LeadingAge COVID-19 Workforce Partnerships Job Board – LeadingAge is connecting displaced workers with current job openings.
• 4-6-2020 Caregiver, CNA, & HHA Recruitment Solution. MyCNAjobs.com is the largest network of Caregivers, CNAs, and Certified Home Health Aides in the nation. In light of COVID-19, Leading Age and myCNAjobs have collaborated to offer one month free with an annual agreement to all Leading Age members. Programs include access to millions of active job seeker resumes, the ability to post jobs, a built-in video interview scheduling service, and access to discounted partner programs including background and digital reference checks. Email [email protected] or call 312-566-8520 to redeem offer.
• 4-6-2020 The recording from Saturday's Coronavirus Daily Member Update is available now. And check out Sunday’s recording to hear LeadingAge experts’ answers to your most frequently asked recent questions in affordable housing, life plan communities, skilled nursing and assisted living.
• 4-6-2020 LeadingAge Need to Know Daily Newsletter
• 4-2-2020 Quick Reversal by IRS: No Need to File to Receive Checks
  
• 3-29-2020 What’s in the CARES Act for LeadingAge Members
• 3-29-2020 View LeadingAge’s FAQs about FFCRA
• Nursing Home Blanket Waivers Chart 
• Home Health Blanket Waivers Chart 
• Hospice Blanket Waivers Chart 
• How Coronavirus Lives in the Air and On Surfaces
• Q & A New Paid Sick Leave and FMLA Leave in the Families First Response Act (FFCRA)
• COVID-19 Focused Survey Tool and Checklist
• Check out the latest news, information and tools from LeadingAge. Information changes daily so check often.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING/HUD 

• 3-24-2020 HUD Issued New FAQ for flexibility in responding to COVID-19 in Federally-Assisted Housing
• HUD postpones all housing inspections during crisis 
• HUD’s Office of Multifamily Housing Answers LeadingAge COVID-19 Questions 
• Resources for Affordable Housing/HUD providers

(WHO) WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION SECTION 

• WHO’s Coronavirus/COVID-19 webpage 
• 3-30-2020 WHO’s new clinical codes in the context of COVID-19

Other Resources

• New! Reminder Resources for Members with Positive COVID-19 In Their Buildings

  • It is important for all members to understand that having a positive COVID-19 case is not a matter of “if” but “when” it happens. We encourage you to plan now if you haven’t already.
  • Template Letter for Communities Who Are Testing for COVID-19
  • Template Letter for Communities With a Positive COVID-19 Case
  • Template Media Statement for a COVID-19 Outbreak in Your Organization
  • Planning for a COVID-19 Outbreak in Your Community: Tips for Working with the Media
• Free long-term care resources from APIC.
• Rural Towns Insulated From Coronavirus Now May Take A Harder Hit Later: NPR
• Everyone is now expected to wear a mask per CDC guidelines. The CDC put out directions on how to make a homemade mask as well as laundering guidelines for them.
• COVID-19 Information for Public Distribution, Cyber Threats, Online tools and the Daily KDHE COVID-19 Update
• Paycheck Protection Program Guidance Issued on Affiliation and for Faith-Based Organizations
• Small Business Administration Loans Available to Support Providers through COVID-19 Pandemic
• Here is the Stinson-sponsored webinar last week Federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act_ Employer Leave Requirements.
• DOL Issues Temporary Rule Promulgating Regulations on the FFCRA
• Emergency Preparedness: Caring for persons living with dementia in a long-term or community-based care setting
• Helping Employees Meet Childcare Needs: Providers are finding ways to reduce the burden of childcare for their employees.
• Resident Engagement During Social Isolation: Members are finding new ways to socialize, build community, and keep busy.
• Coping with Mental Health Issues During the Coronavirus Crisis
• Dementia Help Sheets to navigate coronavirus COVID-19
• How to Maintain Peace in Memory Care in a Confusing Time with Gerontologist Mikki Firor from Bridge the Gap: The Senior Living Podcast
• Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)
• IRS and Other Federal Agencies Provide New Guidance on Paid Leave Tax Credits
• OSHA has an excellent video about the difference between a respirator and a surgical mask.
• Check out our resources page for information on life enrichment, staffing, workers' compensation, communications, handwashing and more.

Make sure to check out our archived resources page for crisis communications, etc.

Partner Solutions

• Check out our partner solutions page. 

 COVID-19 Global MAP