COVID-19



COVID_Community_Banner.png

We are following the developments of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and the monitoring by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  We will continue to collect and share information and resources on this page to support our renal healthcare professionals and facilities.  


cdc_list.jpg cms.jpg telehealth_resources.jpg infection_prevention_button.jpg COVID_TRAINING.jpg COVID_OTHER.jpg past_events.jpg MENTAL_WELLNESS_BUTTON.png
discussion.jpg


The discussion thread is for
NRAA Members only.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________





CDC Resources


CDC Situation Summary 
This is a rapidly evolving situation and CDC will provide updated information as it becomes available, in addition to updated guidance. Updated daily.

CDC Information for Healthcare Professionals 
Includes information and guidance for persons under investigation (PUI), clinical care, infection control, protective equipment, and home care guidance. 


Project American Strong - 5/6/20
The federal government launched “Project America Strong” to distribute reusable cotton face coverings in support of the critical infrastructure sectors across the country. CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores, pharmacies, traveling to and from medical appointments) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.


CDC Information and Resources for Hemodialysis Facilities and Patients 



CDC Information for Healthcare Facilities 
Resources for clinics and healthcare facilities to prepare and respond to the community spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). 


Additional CDC Resource Links
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________





CMS Resources


CMS Current Emergencies Website 
Visit this page to keep up with the important work CMS is doing in response to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).

CMS - Re-Opening Healthcare Facilities 

CMS - Coronavirus Waivers & Flexibilities 

CMS Relief for Quality Reporting Programs - CROWNWeb and QIP info included
  • Nursing Home Five Star Quality Rating System Updates - FAQ - 4/24/20
  • Announcement - 3/22/20
  • Provider Enrollment Relief FAQ - 3/23/20
  • The NRAA government affairs team has outlined details included in reference to CROWNWeb and QIP reporting:
    • For 2019, deadlines for October 1, 2019 -December 31, 2019 (Q4) data submissions are optional. If Q4 data is submitted, it will be used to calculate payment (where appropriate). If Q4 data is not able to be submitted, then 2019 performance will be calculated based on data from January 1, 2019 - September 30, 2019 (Q1 - Q3) and available data.
    • For 2020, CMS will not count data from January 1, 2020 through January 30, 2020 (Q1 - Q2) for performance or payment programs. Therefore, facilities do NOT need to submit data for this time period.

CMS New Targeted Plan for Healthcare Facility Inspections - 3/23/20

CMS Clinical and Technical Guidance for Health Care Facilities


Medicare and Other Coverage Guidance

Medicaid and Childrens' Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Resources

CMS Coronavirus (COVID-19) Partner Toolkit
 - updated 3/19/20
CMS has developed this toolkit to help you stay informed on CMS and HHS materials available on the COVID-19. Please share these materials, bookmark the page, and check back often for the most up-to-date information. 

CMS Podcasts and Transcripts 
Page to listen to the audio files and read transcripts for the COVID-19 Stakeholder calls.

For CMS Issued Materials on Medicare Telehealth - Click Here 

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________





Telehealth Guidance


As you know, telemedicine and virtual care has become a key resource in the COVID-19 strategy. CMS and private payers have taken significant steps in recent days to provide coverage, privacy and payment guidance on the use of telemedicine (including phone calls).  The NRAA team has assembled the following list of resources:

Press Releases

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange (TRACIE) released an Express message that includes: 

CMS Issued Materials on Medicaid & CHIP Telehealth:

CMS Issued Materials on Medicare Telehealth: 


HIPAA:  Effective immediately, the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) will exercise enforcement discretion and waive penalties for HIPAA violations against health care providers that serve patients in good faith through everyday communications technologies, such as FaceTime or Skype, during the COVID-19 nationwide public health emergency. 


Telehealth Legal Resources 


Practice Guidelines & Additional Telehealth Resources

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________





Other Resources


Agency Updates 

CARES Act 
Attestation Portal is Open - 4/16/20 
  • Providers who have been allocated a payment from the initial $30 billion general distribution must sign an attestation confirming receipt of the funds. 
HHS Announces Immediate Infusion of $30 Billion into Healthcare System - 4/9/20


Other Resources

Transportation and Cleaning 
resources received from Kidney Community Emergency Response (KCER)
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________





Training Materials


National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC)
Collaboration between Emory University, University of Nebraska Medical Center/Nebraska Medicine and the New York Health and Hospital Corporation, Bellevue Hospital Center. 

NETEC offers a variety of online training and resources including: 

Online Training - World Health Organization (Free, must create an OpenWHO account)
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________





Past Events, Recordings, Presentations


CMS COVID-19 Stakeholder Call Recording/Transcripts
On-going updates on this link

________________________________________

Advancing the Response to COVID-19: Sharing Promising Programs and Practices for Racial and Ethnic Minority Communities - 9/17/20
A Virtual Symposium Hosted by HHS Office of Minority Health

Lessons from the Front Lines: COVID-19 - 9/18/20
Hosted by CMS 

Optimizing Healthcare PPE and Supplies - 9/14/20
Hosted by ASPR TRACIE 
Going Beyond the Statement: Dismantling Systematic Racism in Nephrology - 9/14/20
Hosted by ASN 

Gowns and Other Apparel for Use by Health Care Personnel in COVID-19 Pandemic - 9/15/20
Hosted by CDC National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health 

Telehealth & Health Equity: Considerations for Addressing Health Disparities during COVID-19 - 9/15/20
Hosted by the CDC, Clinical Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA)

Virtual Town Hall: Immediately in Effect Guidance on COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests - 9/16/20
Hosted by the FDA

Living in a Multigenerational Household During COVID-19 - 9/16/20
Hosted by ESRD National Coordinating Center

Using Technology to Expand Access and Improve Resilience in the post-COVID Healthcare Transformation - 9/10/20
Hosted by the National Quality Forum

Webinar Series - FDA Surgical Masks Umbrella EUA - 9/1/20
Hosted by the FDA

Enabling Operating Room Agility in the COVID-19 Environment - 9/3/20
Hosted by the CDC

Lessons from the Frontlines - 9/4/20
Hosted by CMS, FDA, and the White House Coronavirus Task Force

Lessons from the Front Lines - 8/21/20
Hosted by CMS, FDA, and the White House Coronavirus Task Force 


Nursing's Role in Health Equity, Public Health Emergencies, and COVID-19 - Critical Issues for the Future of Nursing 2020-2030 - 8/20/20
Hosted by National Academy of Medicine 

Addressing Kidney Patient's Clinical Needs During COVID-19 - 8/14/20
Hosted by Renal Physicians Association


Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule: Understanding 4 Key Topics Listening Session 
Hosted by CMS Medicare Learning Network - 8/13/20

National CMS/CDC Nursing Home COVID-19 Training: Transparency: Resident and Family Notification, Department of Health and Other Notifications - 8/13/20
Hosted by CMS and the CDC

COVID-19 Care Site-Specific Calls: Dialysis Organizations - 8/12/20
Hosted by CMS


COVID-19 & Telehealth Implementation: Stories from the Field - 8/4/20
Hosted by the CDC Clinical Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA)


National CMS/CDC Nursing Home COVID-19 Training Series - 7/30/20
This weeks topic: COVID-19 Knowledge for the Frontline Staff 
Hosted by CMS/CDC 

Telehealth for Community-Based Organizations - Part 1: Services, Payment, and Partners - 7/29/20
Hosted by HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, the HHS Administration for Community Living and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

CDC COVID-19 Response: Promising Practices in Health Equity - 7/29/20
Hosted by the CDC 

COVID-19 Contact Tracing: Status, Challenges and Lessons Learned 
- 7/28/20
Hosted by eHealth Initiative 

COVID-19 Updates, Increased Risk, and Complications for People with Diabetes - 7/28/20
Hosted by CDC, Clinical Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA)

CMS COVID-19 Office Hours - 7/28/20
Hosted by CMS

A Shared Vision of the COVID-19 Experience in Renal Units Across the World - 7/23/20
Hosted by European Dialysis and Transplant Nurses/European Renal Care Association 


Making Kidney Transplantation Possible During COVID-19 - 7/22/20
Hosted by KCER 


Supporting Family Caregivers of Older Adults through Times of Stress and Isolation: A Panel Discussion - 7/16/20
Hosted by CMS - Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office

Lessons from the Front Lines - 7/17/20
Hosted by CMS 

Managing Staffing Challenges (in the era of COVID-19) - 7/9/20
Hosted by CMS 


State Partnerships to Support COVID-19 Prevention and Response in Nursing Homes - 6/30/20
Hosted by CMS 


Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Stategies for COVID Care - 6/25/20
Hosted by CMS 

The COVID-19 Impact: Changes and Challenges for Dialysis Providers Webinar Series - 6/24/20
Part 3: Paid Leave Under the Families First Coronavirus Act
Hosted by NRAA

Your COVID-19 Questions Answered: Daily Life, Social Interaction, Returning to Work, and More - 6/24/20
Hosted by CDC Emergency Partners Information Connection (EPIC)

Navigating COVID-19: Supporting Individuals with Dementia and their Caregivers - 6/23/20
Hosted by  CMS

Roundtable: Telehealth for Kidney Care, Beyond COVID-19 - 6/23/20
Hosted by ASN

Clinical Care: Managing COVID Positive Residents - 6/18/20
Hosted by CMS 

COVID-19 Infection Prevention Resources for Dialysis Staff - 6/17/20
Hosted by ESRD Network Community, National Coordinating Center

Applying COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control Strategies in Nursing Homes - 6/16/20
Hosted by CDC Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA)

AKI Roundtable: The Kidney/Lung Connection and Fluid Management in COVID-19 - 6/16/20
Hosted by ASN

How Facilities Are Keeping Patients Safe from COVID-19 [For ESRD Patients] - 6/16/20
Hosted by ESRD Network Community, National Coordinating Center


Weekly COVID-19 Quickinar: ASN Response - 6/10/20
Hosted by ASN


Implementation Strategies for COVID-19 Surveillance and Early Detection - 6/4/20
Hosted by Quality Improvement Organizations, CMS


Provider Preparation for Hurricane Season During the COVID-19 Pandemic - 6/3/20
Hosted by Kidney Community Emergency Response (KCER)


COVID-19 and the Kidney - 6/3/20
Hosted by: ASN and the Indian Society of Nephrology (ISN)


Living Well During COVID-19: How to Cope and Manage Your Emotions - 5/28/20
Hosted by Dialysis Patient Citizens 
Webinar Recording  & Presentation Slides

Establishing an Infection Prevention Program, and Conducting Ongoing Infection Surveillance in the Nursing Home - 5/28/20
Hosted by CMS 

2020 Hurricane Season During COVID-19 - 5/27/20
Hosted by CDC EPIC Team

UNITE Part 1: Long-term Care Facilities' Response to COVID-19 - 5/27/20
Hosted by CMS


COVID-19 Communications: Quick Tips to Connect - 5/27/20
Weekly event hosted by CMS and ESRD NCC


The Provision of Dialysis for Patients Post-COVID Diagnosis - 5/21/20
Hosted by American Society of Nephrology (ASN) 
Webinar Recording  |  Presentation Slides 


Toward the "New Normal": Protecting Public Health as American Reopens - 5/15/20
Hosted by National Association of Medicine (NAM) and American Public Health Association (APHA)

Surviving COVID-19 : Mental Health Support for Kidney Disease Professionals - 5/14/20
Hosted by ASN, ANNA, and NANT 
Webinar Recording Presentation Slides 

PPE! You've Got Questions. We've Got Answers. - 5/13/20
Hosted by National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC)

The COVID-19 Impact: Outlook on Future Legislation and Regulatory Changes - 5/13/20
Hosted by National Renal Administrators Association (NRAA)
Webinar Recording & Presentation Slides 

COVID-19: Healthcare System Operations Strategies and Experiences  - 5/11/20
Hosted by HHS ASPR - Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange (TRACIE) 

Dialysis after Discharge: Transitions of Care for COVID-19 Positive Patients - 5/7/20
Hosted by American Society of Nephrology (ASN)
Webinar Recording  |  Presentation Slides 

Paid Leave Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act  - 5/1/20
Hosted by Renal Physicians Association (RPA)


Overcoming Challenges to the Provision of Acute Dialysis for COVID-19 Positive Patients - 4/30/20
Hosted by American Society of Nephrology (ASN)
Webinar Recording  |  Presentation Slides 

Supporting Family Caregivers of Older Adults Through Times of Stress And Isolation  - 4/30/20
Hosted by Resources for Integrated Care (Resources for Providers & Plans for Medicare-Medicaid Integration) 

ITU Webinar: Medicare 101 (focus on ITU Staff and provisions for American Indians & Alaska Natives)  - 4/30/20
Hosted by CMS Division of Tribal Affairs 


Managing Your Healthcare Providers' Mental and Physical Wellness in the Time of COVID-19 - 4/29/20
Hosted by Sepsis Alliance 

What the COVID-19 Legislation Means for Healthcare - 4/29/20
Hosted by National Quality Forum 

Reducing the Risk of COVID-19 in the Dialysis Setting - 4/28/20
Hosted by American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA)
Registration required for library access

COVID-19 Impact: Addressing Capacity and Cashflow with Virtual Care - 4/28/20
Hosted by eHealth Initiative 

Patient, Family, and Caregiver Engagement Inside a Pandemic - 4/28/20
Hosted by National Quality Forum 


CMS: Lessons from the Front Lines - COVID-19 - 4/24/20
Joint call with CMS, FDA, and White House Task Force (occurs every Friday) 
Call transcript  


Challenges in Transplant Program Operations in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for Patients & Referring Providers - 4/23/20
Hosted by American Society of Nephrology (ASN)
Webinar Recording  |  Presentation Slides

CDC: Psychological First Aid: Addressing Mental Health Distress During Disasters - 4/22/20
Hosted by CDC Emergency Partners Information Connection (EPIC)
Presentation slides

CMS: COVID-19 in Indian Country: Considerations and Resources for LTSS - 4/22/20
Call transcript  

CMS: COVID-19 Care Site-Specific Weekly Call - 4/22/20
Dialysis Organizations - Wednesdays at 5:30 - 6:00 PM ET 
Call transcript  

Dialysis Provision and COVID-19 - 4/22/20
Hosted by Health Services Advisory Group

ASN: COVID-19 Associated AKI Recognition and Management - 4/21/20
Webinar Recording  |  Presentation Slides 

RPA: Financial Support for Nephrology Practices During the COVID-19 Crisis - 4/17/20
Webinar Recording Presentation Slides 

CMS: Lessons from the Front Lines - COVID-19 - 4/17/20
Call transcript  

CDC: COVID-19 in the U.S.: Insights from Healthcare Systems - 4/17/20 
Hosted by CDC Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA)
Recording will be shared here

ASN: COVID-19 International Roundtable: Recommendations and Lessons Learned - 4/16/20
Webinar Recording  |  Presentation Slides 


​NRAA: The COVID-19 Impact: Legislation, Waivers and Flexibilities for Dialysis Providers - 4/15/20
Webinar recording available here

NAM & APHA: Crisis Standards of Care During COVID-19 - 4/15/20
presented by National Association of Medicine (NAM)  and American Public Health Association (APHA)
Webinar details available here

CMS: COVID-19 Call with Dialysis Facilities - 4/15/20

ASN: COVID-19 - Considerations in the Home Dialysis Setting - 4/9/20
Webinar recording  |   Presentation slides 

CDC: Crisis & Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) Overview for COVID-19 - 4/6/20
Recording and presentation slides available here

RPA: Delivering Care Via Telehealth During COVID-19 - 4/3/20
Webinar Recording  |  Presentation Slides 

CDC: Clinical Management of Critically Ill Adults with COVID-19 - 4/2/20
Recording and presentation slides available here

ASN: Hospital Care and Treatment Options for COVID-19 Positive Patients with ESKD and AKI - 4/2/20 
Recording and presentation slides available here


ANA: Be Confident Protecting Yourself and Providing the Best Care to Your Patients during this COVID-19 Pandemic - On Demand - 3/30/20
Register to receive on-demand link.


ASN Webinar: CDC Recommendations and Policy Updates for Current Challenges in the Dialysis Setting - 3/26/20
Webinar Recording  |  Presentation Slides

CDC Webinar: Underlying Medical Conditions & People at Higher Risk for COVID-19 -  3/27/20
Hosted by CDC, Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA)
Recording and presentation slides available here 


CDC: COVID-19 Update: Optimization Strategies for Healthcare PPE - 3/25/20
Recording and presentation slides available here

CDC: Coronavirus Disease 2019 Update on Information for Long-term Care Facilities - 3/17/20
Recording and presentation slides available here

CDC: Coronavirus Disease 2019 Update and Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations - 3/13/20
Recording and presentation slides available here 

ASN COVID-19 Information for Providers of Dialysis Services - 3/11/20
Webinar Recording  |  Presentation Slides 

ASPR TRACIE: Highly Pathogenic Infections Disease Training and Exercise Resources Webinar - 3/5/20
Presentation slides available here

CDC: What Clinicians Need to Know to Prepare for COVID-19 - 3/5/20
Recording available here



___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________





Mental Wellness


FOR EVERYONE

FOR COMMUNITIES

FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN

FOR PATIENTS

The Coalition for Supportive Care for Kidney Patients has developed communication tools and resources to help clinicians respond to patients who are feeling stress, vulnerable, and scared during this pandemic.

Additional Communication Tools for Patients and Families


FOR PROVIDERS AND HEALTHCARE WORKERS


FOR FIRST RESPONDERS 



PAST EVENTS

PCSS Clinical Roundtable - Taking Care of Yourself Using Mindfulness and Other Techniques = 4/23/20

Managing Your Healthcare Providers' Mental and Physical Wellness in the Time of COVID-19 - 4/29/20
Presented by Sepsis Alliance 

CDC: Psychological First Aid: Addressing Mental Health Distress During Disasters - 4/22/20
Hosted by CDC Emergency Partners Information Connection (EPIC)
Presentation Slides 

Managing Your Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic - 4/7/20
Presented by Society of Critical Care Medicine
Recording Available Here 

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



Latest Discussions List

  • Posted in: Voices Community

    RHA Annual Day on the Hill | May 6-7, 2024 Join us for the RHA Annual Day on the Hill program, where kidney care professionals and patients come together to advocate for the interests of independent, regional, and community-based dialysis providers. ... More

  • Profile Picture

    Catheter Site Care

    Posted in: Voices Community

    We have been using the BioPatch disc with our catheter site care kits. They are now on back order, so we will need to alter our common practice. Would anyone be willing to share their policy on catheter site care with me? Thank you in advance ------------------------------ ... More

  • Posted in: Voices Community

    I have heard through the grapevine that some organizations are administering Jesduvroq incenter and giving it 3x a week with dialysis. Of course, I am not finding any literature to back this up as it reads that it is administered daily at home. Is anyone ... More

  • Posted in: Voices Community

    Julie, Thank you for your attention to these matters and "dynamic" interventions. That just solidifies why we need each other in this crazy dialysis world. Peggy More

  • Posted in: Voices Community

    Tyson, thanks for this, appreciate it. You know sadly when MA first started, there really wasn't coinsurance, they only had co-pays. Now they have slowly worked in coinsurance over the years in addition to copays. Also, back in the day, the out of ... More

  • Posted in: Voices Community

    All- If you are at all experiencing challenges collecting from Medicare Advantage Plans on claims due to the Medicare / Medicare Advantage Eligibility rules changes in recent years, please take a moment to submit your comment to CMS. They're starting ... More

  • Posted in: Voices Community

    Latest from Network 12: We discussed this in detail in our staff meeting this morning and got input from those on our staff with clinical and clinic management experience. Our conclusion is that not recording oral meds in the ESA screen will have ... More

  • Posted in: Voices Community

    I got corrected on this on a call, its technically not an ESA. So I wonder if they will change it up or just lump it into the ESA category. ------------------------------ David Oppenlander CFO Centers for Dialysis Care, Inc. Shaker Heights OH (216) ... More

  • Posted in: Voices Community

    Just FYI to those of you using Jesduvroq - when your staff are inputting ESA use in the EQRS it is impossible to put in Jesduvroq because there is no field of entry for ORAL ESA, only for sub-q or IV. I notified EQRS and was told all EQRS enhancements ... More

  • Posted in: Voices Community

    [March 9] CMS Statement on Continued Action to Respond to the Cyberattack on Change Healthcare The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is continuing to monitor and assess the impact that the cyberattack on UnitedHealth Group's subsidiary ... More

  • Posted in: Voices Community

    Hello all, please find a message from David Oppenlander below and a couple of links to help with information if needed within your organization on the Change Health cyber-attack issues. Bill https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-statement-continued-action-respond-cyberattack-change-healthcare ... More