Health data show potential for high rates and severity for 2021-2022 season State and federal data indicate that it is likely that COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) will be spreading at the same time and potentially at high rates and severity during the 2021-2022 respiratory virus season. Respiratory virus season typically begins in the fall and continues through the spring, with peak periods normally between December and February, but vary each year. Last influenza season was historically low nationwide due to precautions taken to prevent COVID-19. However, entering this influenza and respiratory virus season, many COVID-19 mitigation measures have been relaxed which is expected to result in increased respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, influenza, and RSV.
The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services has issued a technical bulletin with additional details, including symptoms and transmission, testing, isolation/exclusion timelines and vaccination information. Visit the Division of Public and Behavioral Health Technical Bulletins web page to view/download the PDF of the bulletin.
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Representation needed to advise state health officials about policy, education, licensing The Nevada Dietitian Advisory Group (DAG) has an opening for one Nevada licensed dietitian. The DAG consists of five members — four licensed dietitians and one member representing the general public — who serve four-year terms with at least one meeting per year. More information about the DAG can be found in the group’s bylaws.
The DAG is administered by the Division of Public and Behavioral Health to work collaboratively with the dietitian industry and make recommendations to the state Board of Health and Executive Officer regarding education about dietetics; facilitate the exchange of information with the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; and provide recommendations to the Board of Health and Executive Officer concerning regulations or practices that affect licensees, review disciplinary actions, appeals, denials or revocations of licenses and terms of the suspension or reinstatement of licenses. To apply for the DAG opening, send your resume and letter of interest to [email protected] by Oct. 31, 2021. Applicants are scheduled be considered at the DAG meeting scheduled for Nov. 18 at 3:30 p.m. Facilities are required to submit requests to admit or retain residents with special conditions An online form has been developed and is now available for facilities to submit requests to admit or retain a resident who is bedfast or requires skilled nursing or other 24-hour medical care. As of Oct. 1, 2021, exemption requests will only be considered if submitted online; requests submitted other ways (email, fax, etc.) will be returned with instructions for submitting online.
Nevada Administrative Code Chapter 449.2736 states that a facility administrator may submit a written request for permission to admit or retain a resident who is prohibited from being admitted to a residential facility or remaining as a resident of the facility. The new online form replaces the prior version of the form used by facilities to submit the request. When submitting a request, facilities must provide:
The online bedfast/medical exemption form and other information relevant to residential facilities for groups can be found at dpbh.nv.gov/assistedliving. Apply starting Sept. 29 to help with certain revenue losses, COVID-related expenses and receive bonus payments for certain services An additional round of Provider Relief Funds. Funds are available to support providers to assist with revenue losses, COVID-related expenses, and bonus payments based on the amount and type of services provided to Medicaid, CHIP, and Medicare patients. Applications will be accepted starting September 29, 2021. For more information, go to https://www.hrsa.gov/provider-relief/future-payments.
Guidelines are to help facilities minimize the risk of exposures and prevent outbreaks Due to the concerning increase in COVID-19 test positivity rate, the alarming increase in COVID-19-related hospitalizations and deaths, and an observed increase in breakthrough cases driven by the highly infective Delta variant, the Division of Public and Behavioral Health (DPBH) recommends that facilities quarantine all new admissions and re-admissions regardless of vaccination status. This recommendation is based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) quarantine guidelines for unvaccinated residents in order to minimize the risk of exposures and to prevent outbreaks.
Full information on this issue can be found in a technical bulletin on the Division of Public and Behavioral Health website. CMS issues final rule for Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) now requires ICF/IID facilities to develop policies and procedures to educate clients, their representatives and staff on the benefits and risks, and potential side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine. Further, ICF/IID must offer the vaccine unless it is medically contraindicated or the client or staff member has already been immunized. Additionally, the facility must maintain appropriate documentation to reflect the provision of the required COVID-19 vaccine education and offering, and whether the client and staff member received the vaccine or did not receive it due to medical contraindications or refusal. The education and offering of the vaccine only needed to be documented once the CMS-3414-IFC rule went into effect on May 21, 2021.
Further, CMS continues to encourage ICF/IID to voluntarily report COVID-19 incidence and vaccination status of clients and staff, each dose of vaccine received, COVID-19 vaccination adverse events, and therapeutics administered to clients to treat COVID-19 on the CDC National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) website. This reporting will help public health agencies and stakeholders monitor the percentage of clients and staff who are vaccinated and target resources accordingly to improve vaccination rates. Additionally, reporting the use of therapeutics will help agencies and stakeholders monitor the prevalence of these treatments, their effectiveness, and support allocation efforts to ensure that the ICF/IID has access to needed supplies (vaccines, personal protective equipment, and COVID-19 tests). Noncompliance related to the new requirements for educating and offering COVID-19 vaccination to clients and staff will be cited by federal inspectors. Full details can be found in CMS memo QSO-21-21-ICFIID. For information about National Healthcare Safety Network, see the “NHSN Reporting Toolkit for Long-Term Care Facilities” on the Healthcare Associated Infections Prevention and Control Training and Education web page. State TB Program agrees with federal recommendation |
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
October 2023
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