COVID-19 Information Hub

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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.  


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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. 

Nursing Home COVID-19 Data Dashboard - updated 1/20/21


    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
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    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 

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    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

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    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)


    Infection Prevention 

    CDC Resources 

    Other Resources
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    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 

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    Latest Discussions List

    • Profile Picture

      Biomed

      By: Robyn Nygard , 21 hours ago
      Posted in: Voices Community

      Is anyone willing to share their annual training competencies for biomed? Please and Thank You ------------------------------ Robyn Nygard Fort Peck Tribal Dialysis Unit Poplar MT (406) 768-5468 ------------------------------ More

    • Profile Picture

      RE: Staffing Technical

      By: Amy Young , yesterday
      Posted in: Voices Community

      Julie, This is so very helpful. Thank you. Amy Young ------------------------------ Amy Young Director of Dialysis Wise Health System Decatur TX (940) 626-1700 ------------------------------ More

    • Profile Picture

      RE: Staffing Technical

      By: Julie Williams , yesterday
      Posted in: Voices Community

      Hi AMY... So I am not hospital based, we are free standing, independent. We have 7 outpatient facilities that have 11, 14, 16, 16, 16, 16, 20 stations and an acute dialysis program with 3 machines averaging 80 treatments a month. 2 full time biomed ... More

    • Profile Picture

      Staffing Technical

      By: Amy Young , yesterday
      Posted in: Voices Community

      Would anyone be willing to share how you staff your technical department? Who opens your unit/who closes? Are you technical staff in house during the week or on call? We are owned by a hospital. We have a 24 chair outpatient hemodialysis clinic ... More

    • Profile Picture

      RE: SNF Dialysis - Acute

      By: Stacy Vice , 3 days ago
      Posted in: Voices Community

      Thank you for your response. I am aware of and have reviewed the document you mentioned. Do you also provide care for patients who are not able to be transported offsite or are more acutely ill and thus not deemed "outpatient"eligible? If so, I ... More

    • Profile Picture

      RE: SNF Dialysis - Acute

      By: Maria Regnier , 3 days ago
      Posted in: Voices Community

      The place to start is QSO-18-24-ESRD (revised 3/22/2023) version. This is the Guidance and Survey Process for Reviewing Home Dialysis Services in a Nursing Home. This document explains in a very detailed manner what is exactly needed for the provision ... More

    • Profile Picture

      SNF Dialysis - Acute

      By: Stacy Vice , 3 days ago
      Posted in: Voices Community

      Looking for resources regarding regulations, outcomes, and governance of acute SNF dialysis units. If any of you have experience or resources you would be willing to share I would appreciate it! ------------------------------ Stacy Vice, BSN RN -- ... More

    • Profile Picture

      Non-polysulfone membranes

      By: Kate Kern , 4 days ago
      Posted in: Voices Community

      Suggestions for dialyzers for patients with polysulfone membrane allergy? Thank you for input. ------------------------------ [Kate] [Kern] RN BSN CNN] [Dialysis Director] [Tri-State Dialysis] [Dubuque) (Iowa) [563 589 4035] -------------------- ... More

    • Profile Picture

      COVID policies

      By: Kate Kern , 4 days ago
      Posted in: Voices Community

      As COVID incidence ramps up I am wondering what others are doing for isolation. How long are you keeping patients in isolation room? Are staff wearing separate isolation gown for all patients in their first 7 days? If the patient is in the general unit ... More

    • Profile Picture

      RE: Water and daily's ate samples

      By: Bridget Pfaff , 9 days ago
      Posted in: Voices Community

      Depending on your contamination level, you may be ok. Sometimes I would be more suspicious if the entries were always 0 on the log than if there are occasional samples with 4 to <50 Cfu's/ml. I don't ever expect anyone to be perfect in their collection ... More

    • Profile Picture

      RE: Release: CY2024 ESRD PPS Proposed Rule

      By: Nemat Ebeid-Ishak , 9 days ago
      Posted in: Voices Community

      No, I did not receive it David. Sorry about this. Anyways, my email address is nishak@metrocast.net Thanks in advance Nemat (Ninette) More

    • Profile Picture

      RE: Release: CY2024 ESRD PPS Proposed Rule

      By: David Oppenlander , 9 days ago
      Posted in: Voices Community

      Nemat, I sent it to you (or so I thought) didn't you receive? What is your email address? I send it direct to you. It's actually on the RSE's website. Dave Sent from my phone, please forgive any typos Thank you More

    • Profile Picture

      RE: Release: CY2024 ESRD PPS Proposed Rule

      By: Sarabeth Gillespie , 10 days ago
      Posted in: Voices Community

      Hi Ninette, I sent you an email regarding your account to the address we have on file on 9/5/23 and just forwarded it to you again. If I don't hear from you, I will call the number you provided tomorrow morning. Thank you, Sarabeth ------------------------------ ... More

    • Profile Picture

      RE: Release: CY2024 ESRD PPS Proposed Rule

      By: Nemat Ebeid-Ishak , 10 days ago
      Posted in: Voices Community

      Hi Caprice: I hate to keep bothering you or anyone. The problem is I have not heard from Sarah or anyone else regarding my login. I don't even know if it is a login or account issue. ??If you can please call me or have someone call me tomorrow. I ... More

    • Profile Picture

      RE: Water and daily's ate samples

      By: Julie Williams , 10 days ago
      Posted in: Voices Community

      the first place to start is with the lab draw policy. You can get that from your lab. New staff to drawing water/dialysate samples have a tendency to contaminate the sample which can be extremely frustrating. They have to follow the sample drawing ... More

    • Profile Picture

      RE: Occurrence Code 33

      By: Christine Kelley , 10 days ago
      Posted in: Voices Community

      Yes, we just started getting this error for VA claims in the Northeast Region also. Thanks for sharing - we had just begun to research the issue. ------------------------------ Christine Kelley University of Vermont Medical Center - Renal Services ... More

    • Profile Picture

      RE: Occurrence Code 33

      By: David Oppenlander , 10 days ago
      Posted in: Voices Community

      Haven't seen that yet, but will keep a look out, thanks for bringing it to our attention! Sent from my phone, please forgive any typos Thank you This email and its attachments may contain privileged and confidential information and/or ... More

    • Profile Picture

      Water and daily’s ate samples

      By: Robyn Nygard , 10 days ago
      Posted in: Voices Community

      Hello, Will anyone share their policies on dialysate and water sampling? Our biomed retired with some training given to a replacement but some of our water samples have come back contaminated. Also, ascend sent us new collection tubes which are more ... More

    • Profile Picture

      RE: Occurrence Code 33

      By: Donna Ross , 11 days ago
      Posted in: Voices Community

      Our facilities had the same issue in Georgia and North Carolina. We contacted VA and received information that the occurrence code 33 is required on all ESRD claims after 8/15/23. However, the majority of our VA claims did have the occurrence code 11 ... More

    • Profile Picture

      Occurrence Code 33

      By: Julie Williams , 11 days ago
      Posted in: Voices Community

      So maybe this is a MAC or regional VA change but just FYI to all our billers.. VA is requiring that occurrence code 33 for first date of dialysis from the ESRD 2728 form is now on all ESRD claims. We found out when all of our August claims from VACCN ... More