Guidelines aimed at preventing spread of multidrug-resistant organisms. The Centers for Medical and Medicaid Services (CMS) is issuing new guidance for State Survey Agencies (such as the Bureau of Health Care Quality and Compliance in Nevada) and long-term care (LTC) facilities on the use of enhanced barrier precautions (EBP) to align with nationally accepted standards.
Recommendations now include use of EBP for residents with chronic wounds or indwelling medical devices during high-contact resident care activities regardless of their multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) status. The new guidance related to EBP is being incorporated into F880 Infection Prevention and Control. Full information on this new guidance can be found online in QSO-24-08-NH. For questions or concerns relating to this memorandum, send an email to [email protected].
Check out CMS’s new Quality in Focus interactive video series. The series of 10-15 minute videos are tailored to provider types and aim to reduce the deficiencies most commonly cited during the CMS survey process, like infection control and accident prevention. Reducing these common deficiencies increases the quality of care for people with Medicare and Medicaid. Learn to:
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Technical bulletin provides background and recommendations going forward. On March 1, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published updated guidance for respiratory virus illnesses, which includes COVID-19, influenza and RSV, among other common viral respiratory illnesses.
NOTE: This updated guidance is not applicable to health care settings but is being sent to assist with outpatient education. CDC reports that the 2023-2024 fall and winter respiratory virus season — four years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic — provided ongoing evidence of the changing face of respiratory diseases. COVID-19 remains an important public health threat but it is no longer the emergency that it once was and its health impacts increasingly resemble those of other respiratory viral illnesses, including influenza and RSV. This reality enables CDC to provide updated guidance proportionate to the current level of risk posed by COVID-19 while balancing other critical health and societal needs. Key drivers and indicators of the reduction in threat from COVID-19 include:
Hospitals, home health agencies, hospices and other facilities that are certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) must continue to follow CMS infection control and prevention regulatory requirements, including the requirement to adhere to nationally recognized infection prevention and control guidelines, as indicated. The applicable nationally recognized infection prevention and control guidelines would be those applicable to the facility setting. Follow recommendations found online here. State-licensed facilities State-licensed facilities are required to follow all applicable state laws and regulations regarding infection prevention and control; each facility is responsible for understanding the laws and regulations that apply to them. For more guidance and details, visit the Division of Public and Behavioral Health’s Technical Bulletin web page. Changes to NAC 441A add new requirements for various diseases. On Dec. 10, 2023, the Nevada Legislative Commission approved amendments to Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) 441A that updated the conditions which are mandated to be reported in Nevada. These amendments were made to better align with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) nationally notifiable conditions. NAC 441A has been amended to prescribe requirements governing the investigation of and response to cases of newly reportable conditions. Official codification of NAC 441A is pending, however the draft approved amendments can be found online here.
State health officials have drafted a technical bulletin that lists the conditions that were added or amended in the definition of communicable disease and describes regulation updates concerning Babesiosis, COVID-19, Cyclosporiasis, mpox (monkeypox), and Haemophilus influenzae. For full details, see the “General Topics” section of the Division of Public and Behavioral Health Technical Bulletins web page. See information about requirement and review postponement, draft regulation changes. As of Feb. 6, 2024, submissions of new Cultural Competency Training (CCT) courses for Nevada state-licensed health facilities are not being accepted or reviewed. Licensed health facilities must continue to train staff in accordance with the non-discrimination requirements (NRS 449.101 – NRS 449.104) using an approved training course; for facilities that did not previously have a training approved, a list of approved third-party trainings can be found at https://dpbh.nv.gov/culturalcompetency/. Since these statutes do not require training to be repeated, once an individual health facility staff member receives the training from an approved program, it results in compliance with these laws and does not need to be repeated under currently enforced regulations. Facility inspectors will continue to check employee files for proof of CCT and complaints will continue to be investigated where noncompliance with these laws is alleged.
CCT regulation changes Assembly Bill 267, passed in 2023, requires changes to the regulations governing CCT requirements with the following goals:
For full information about CCT, visit https://dpbh.nv.gov/culturalcompetency/. The Nevada State Immunization Program is offering an extension through Friday, February 9, 2024, for child care facilities that have not yet submitted rates for 2023. Facilities can access the child care and accommodation facility surveys here and information on how to submit rates are in the packets attached (2023-24 Child Care Immunization Information + 2023-24 Accommodation Facility Immunization Information). The process will be the same as in previous years, but for those of you who may not have done this before or if anyone needs a refresher on how to report child care rates, a Nevada Child Care Immunization Rate Reporting video can be accessed here. It's just under 15 minutes, but packed with a lot of great info if anyone has questions about rate reporting this year.
Save the date of May 8 to attend via Zoom. This year’s annual Caregiver Conference, aimed at addressing the unique needs of caregivers and residents, will be held virtually (via Zoom) on May 8 from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. The conference is presented by CASAT Learning in partnership with the Nevada Aging and Disability Services Division. A session on health facility regulations from the Bureau of Health Care Quality and Compliance (HCQC) will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Cost is $45; registration and other sessions are yet to be announced. For questions or concerns, email [email protected].
New law requires information be given to pregnant patients. Expectant mothers can choose to donate birth tissue following the delivery of their healthy newborn(s) in a Nevada-licensed freestanding birthing center or hospital. Birth tissue, which includes amniotic membrane and fluid; placenta; umbilical cord tissue and umbilical veins; chorionic membrane; cord blood and connective tissue contained in the umbilical cord called “Wharton’s Jelly”; or any other tissue derived from a live birth provides nutrients and protection to support fetal development in the womb and is normally discarded after birth. These birth tissues, made up of proteins, growth factors, cytokines, and extracellular matrix molecules have been found to stimulate cell regeneration, reduce inflammation, and expedite recovery times when used in regenerative therapy as tissue grafts. Donated birth tissues have been used for many years in various medical procedures and therapies, including (but not limited to) wound healing, ophthalmic procedures, skin grafting, spinal surgeries, and sports injuries. Birth tissue donation is safe for mothers and babies, and there is no cost to the mother for giving this gift of healing. The donation and utilization of birth tissue is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and standards for the donation of birth tissue are provided by the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB).
Nevada entities accredited by the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) for the acquisition or collection of birth tissue are listed at dpbh.nv.gov/hospitals and dpbh.nv.gov/birthingcenters. At this time, there is only one such entity (Nevada Donor Network) but others will be added as requested by such entities, as required by Assembly Bill 154). The bill also requires a hospital or a physician practicing in the area of obstetrics and gynecology to provide a patient who is pregnant with a link to or a printed copy of that list. CMS seeks input on resident access to the Internet/wifi The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has updated its Civil Money Penalty Reinvestment Program (CMPRP) web page. For a full summary of the updates, see “QSO-23-23-NHs.” Updates include:
CMS’s new "Quality in Focus" interactive video series consists of short (10–15 minutes each) videos tailored to provider types and aiming to reduce the deficiencies most commonly cited during the CMS survey process, such as infection control and accident prevention. Reducing these common deficiencies increases the quality of care for people with Medicare and Medicaid. Learn to:
Certain providers who do not hold state license can provide care under agreements with hospitals. Under a new Nevada law, a hospital may enter into an agreement with the Armed Forces of the United states to allow a medical officer to provide care in the hospital without a license to practice in Nevada.
Assembly Bill 311 allows an un unlicensed federal medical provider to provide care for which a state license, certificate or registration is otherwise required, medical care is provided as part of a training or education program designed to further the employment of the medical officer and the agreement complies with the provisions of 10 U.S.C. 1094. The new law defines “medical officer” as any physician, nurse, dentist or other health care professional who is employed by the Armed Forces of the United States or a reserve component thereof; and defines “unlicensed federal medical provider” as pharmaceutical technician who is not registered pursuant to Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) Chapter 639 of NRS and provides care pursuant to NRS Chapters 630, 631, 632, 633, 635, 640, 652 or 653. Other Armed Forces professionals permitted to practice under AB 311 are physical therapists, medial laboratory directors and personnel, and employees who engage in radiologic imaging or radiation therapy. For questions about this new Nevada law, email Dorothy Sims or Pat Elkins with the Bureau of Health Care Quality and Compliance. Avoid the 2.45% additional charge by using eCheck option. The Nevada Online Licensing System’s payment gateway will start assessing a 2.45% credit card service fee.
To avoid this assessment, users can choose to pay licensing and other fees using the eCheck option. A receipt will be sent to the email on file with the Bureau of Health Care Quality and Compliance (HCQC) from the payment gateway. If paying by credit card, the gateway receipt will reflect the service fee. The receipt issued by HCQC’s licensing system will not reflect the service fee, so licensees are encouraged to you keep the emailed receipt that reflects the full cost. It is anticipated that the credit card service fee will begin the week of Oct. 30, 2023, for health facilities, dietitians, music therapists, and kitchen permits. Questions or concerns can be emailed to [email protected]. |
AuthorThe Bureau of Health Care Quality and Compliance (HCQC) licenses medical and other health facilities, child care facilities and personnel, and medical laboratories and personnel in Nevada. HCQC also conducts compliance surveys and takes complaints. Archives
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