COVID-19 Resources for Hospice

mumms has compiled a resource list for hospice and palliative care facilities regarding the COVID-19 crisis. 

 

 

Resources for Hospice Care 

CMS Waives Hospice Requirements and Expands Telehealth in Response to Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

CMS Issues Flexibilities for Hospice Providers – Since the HHS Secretary Azar’s declaration of the public health emergency on January 31, 2020, NHPCO has been working to ensure that the needs of hospice providers are taken into consideration as regulatory flexibilities are considered. When CMS issued the first set of 1135 blanket waivers on March 13, 2020, hospice providers were not listed. NHPCO met with CMS staff to review the concerns of hospice providers throughout the country and requested clarity in some of the most difficult regulatory requirements. At the same time, NHPCO worked with state leaders and providers to engage in the 1135 waiver process as part of the Hospice Action Network’s multi-faceted advocacy plan that resulted in CMS granting several blanket Medicare waivers.

On March 30, 2020, the following 1135 blanket waivers were issued by CMS for hospice: 

  • Requirement that hospices are required to use volunteers, including the 5% of patient care hours requirement. 
  • Update of the comprehensive assessment timeframe has been extended from 15 to 21 days. 
  • Certain non-core hospice services do not need to be provided, including: Physical therapy, Occupational therapy, Speech-language pathology
  • Nurse is not required to conduct an onsite supervisory visit of the nurse aide every two weeks.

 

CMS Guidance for Hospice – https://www.cms.gov/files/document/qso-20-16-hospice.pdf

NHPCO Hospice and Palliative Care Resource Website – https://www.nhpco.org/coronavirus

Summary: The World Health Organization (WHO) will not include a COVID-19 specific Diagnosis Code until their next update for 10/1/2020. Until then the CDC has recommended the following diagnosis codes. CDC Interim Guidance on Diagnosis Codes For Covid-19 Symptoms – https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/icd/ICD-10-CM-Official-Coding-Gudance-Interim-Advice-coronavirus-feb-20-2020.pdf

Intelycare free COVID-19 Training course – https://www.intelycare.com/covid-19/training/

Nurse.com free COVID-19 Training course – https://www.nurse.com/ce/covid-19-covid19

NHPCO Executive Dialogue Webinar –https://www.nhpco.org/executive-dialogue
A Summary of the DIalogue Is Available here

NHPCO Full Resources – https://www.nhpco.org/coronavirus

HHS COVID-19 Planning Check-list – https://www.phe.gov/Preparedness/COVID19/Documents/COVID-19%20Healthcare%20Planning%20Checklist.pdf

1135 Waiver Resource – https://www.nhpco.org/wp-content/uploads/Federal-1135-Waiver-FAQs-032520.pdf

 

Resources For Telehealth 

With the COVID-19 outbreak, clinicians are increasingly turning to telehealth. A summary of the Telehealth Fee_For-Service (FFS) services is included in the link below. Your intermediary may be able to answer any other questions. 

How hospices are using telehealth – https://hospicenews.com/2020/03/22/senate-bill-would-allow-telehealth-for-face-to-face-encounters-pause-sequestration

Resources for Businesses 

OSHA Guidance on Workplace Safety – https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/

CDC Resources for Patients and Families – https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/communication/factsheets.html

Resources for Clinician Wellness

  1. Free Yale Course for everyone: The Science of Well-Being – https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-science-of-well-being?ranMID=40328&ranEAID=EHFxW6yx8Uo&ranSiteID=EHFxW6yx8Uo-.uLuPn2MieBhuQZx7IMA2Q&siteID=EHFxW6yx8Uo-.uLuPn2MieBhuQZx7IMA2Q&utm_content=10&utm_medium=partners&utm_source=linkshare&utm_campaign=EHFxW6yx8Uo
  2. Free use of Headspace for healthcare professionals – https://www.headspace.com/health-covid-19
  3. Circle K offering free coffee, tea, and polar pops for healthcare workers and first responders with work ID
  4. McDonald’s offering a free drink to first responders and healthcare workers with work ID
  5. Burger King offering a free drink to emergency services, health and social care workers with work ID
  6. Starbucks is offering a free beverage to healthcare workers 
  7. Talkspace is donating 1,000 months of free online therapy to medical workers fighting COVID-19 – https://www.talkspace.com/blog/coronavirus-talkspace-donation-healthcare-workers/

 See the full list here