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

    • 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