Ahead of Anticipated Guidance Changes, KSLA Still Awaits Answers from DAIL & OIG

Ahead of Anticipated Guidance Changes, KSLA Still Awaits Answers from DAIL & OIG

During last Tuesday's Provider roundtable discussion (August 3), several items related to COVID-19 were discussed. We sent an email to DAIL and OIG on Wednesday, August 4 and are awaiting answers to several questions. And while we don't have have those answers yet, the following are things we can provide to you now:

Surveillance Testing - List of CHFS Contracted Labs

The first document (linked above) is the list of CHFS contracted labs that can be used for surveillance COVID testing, dated August 2, 2021.

LTCF County Indicator Map - Latest

The latest LTCF County Indicator Map is updated on alternating Thursdays and can be found at https://chfs.ky.gov/cv19/LTCCountyMapLatest.pdf. The latest map can also be found below.

DAIL “Masking” Memo from Commissioner Elridge

This second document is the memo from DAIL Commissioner Elridge regarding masking, dated August 2, 2021.

Also, KSLA learned on Wednesday that both the Kentucky Department for Public Health and Abbot are out of their supplies of federally provided rapid COVID-19 tests. We have a message into the testing supply exchange to check their stock and hope that their supplies are sufficient for KSLA members to tap into for increased testing.

In anticipation of more restrictive guidance to come, we’ve requested clarity from both DAIL and OIG on the following:

1. Will rapid test kits still be available at no cost to Providers? If so, how do they go about ordering those kits?
2. If rapid test kits are no longer available at no cost to our Providers, who should they expect to pay for increased testing if there is no lab in their area?
3. It is our understanding that labs under contract with CHFS will still bill the state for the tests they administer, and the cost to administer them. Is this still correct?
4. Who (staff, residents or both – vaccinated and un
   vaccinated) is to be tested, and at what frequency?
5. Are communities required to pay employees who are not able to work due to a positive COVID test/illness? Will there be any Provider Relief funds or state allocated funds that can be relied upon to pay them while not working?
6. What are the current infection control protocols for communal dining for both vaccinated and unvaccinated residents and staff?
7. What are the current infection control protocols for offsite travel for both vaccinated and unvaccinated residents and staff (drivers), and for both essential and non-essential activities?

If there are other questions you’d like answered, please send them to Rebecca@KentuckySeniorLiving.org.

We’ll send out updates as we receive them. Many thanks for your patience.