COVID-19 Top Five Things to Know for March 25, 2020

1. $2 Trillion Stimulus Package passed
   The package includes 4 months of unemployment insurance, $55 billion for the healthcare system, $10 billion in grants for small businesses, and $30 billion for to the Disaster Relief Fund for local governments and nonprofits to access that provide essential services, among other things. Access more information here.
2. CMS Approved CA’s 1135 Waiver Request
   This waiver provides relief on a number of fronts, such as prior authorization and provider enrollment requirements, suspending certain nursing home pre-admission reviews, and facilitating reimbursement.
3. In CA, this will temporarily suspend Medicaid fee-for-service prior authorization requirements.  Section 1135(b)(1)(C) allows for a waiver or modification of pre-approval requirements, including prior authorization processes required under the State Plan for particular benefits. It also extends pre-existing authorizations for which a beneficiary has previously received prior authorization through the end of the public health emergency, provides flexibility to temporarily delay scheduling of Medicaid fair hearings and issuing fair hearings decisions during the emergency period,and enables the ability to provisionally, temporarily enroll providers who are with another SMA or Medicare for the duration of the public health emergency. View the Provision of Services in Alternative Settings memo.
4. Understanding Who May Be End-of-Life Residents
   Even if a client is not receiving hospice care, you may have questions whether they fall into the end-of-life category for visitation.  Please reach out to a local hospice provider for clarification. Many hospices are LeadingAge members, so please reach out to us if you need a connection in your area.
5. CMS Surveys Suspended for 3 Weeks
   All regular surveys are suspended for 3 weeks, and if a surveyor has been on site and is the middle of a CMS regular survey, the surveyors will be departing your buildings. The surveys that may occur, and will be announced, relate to targeted infection control surveys, IJ revisits, and complaint surveys. Read more here.
6. Apple Computers Procurement Relief
   If you are looking for iPads or other Apple devices to assist with resident/staff communication/isolation needs, and/or procurement issues, please let us know. We are in touch with Apple and they have special supply chain resources to get devices out rapidly. Our contact is a senior level official at Apple. They also have special lease and financing programs during this time. Also, here are the official Apple cleaning recommendations for Apple devices.
7. resources
   We have up to the minute and regular updates that consolidate state and national information on our COVID-19 Resources page and LeadingAge California Connect.