COVID-19 Vaccine and Booster Resources | https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/COVID-19-Vaccine-and-Booster-Resources.aspx | COVID-19 Vaccine and Booster Resources | | | | | 1/17/2023 5:00:00 AM | | <p><br><br></p>The <a href="https://getvaccinated.us/" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["60b7cbf17788425491b2d083"]" target="_blank">#GetVaccinated</a> website continues to offer access to COVID-19 vaccine and booster resources. In addition to the AHCA/NCAL <a href="/News-and-Communications/Documents/GetVaccinated/GETVAX-bivalent-handout.pdf" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["60b7cbf17788425491b2d083"]" target="_blank">#GetVaccinated handout </a>to help long term care staff discuss the value of the bivalent booster with residents, you can find <a href="https://getvaccinated.us/long-term-care-provider-resources/" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["60b7cbf17788425491b2d083"]" target="_blank">#GetBoosted</a> graphics (posters, social media, and more) – as well as vaccine booster template letters for staff and residents. <br><br>We want to hear your stories! Why did you or your residents #GetVaccinated and/or #GetBoosted? Visit <a href="https://getvaccinated.us/stories/" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["60b7cbf17788425491b2d083"]" target="_blank">#GetVaccinated</a> to learn why others got the vaccine/booster, and be sure to <span style="font-size:11pt;">share your own story <a href="https://getvaccinated.us/stories/#share" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["60b7cbf17788425491b2d083"]" target="_blank">here</a>. </span> | The #GetVaccinated website continues to offer access to COVID-19 vaccine and booster resources. | |
NSHN Reporting Requirements for Q1 2023 | https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/NSHN-Reporting-Requirements-for-Q1-2023.aspx | NSHN Reporting Requirements for Q1 2023 | | | | | 1/17/2023 5:00:00 AM | | <p><br></p><div>It is crucial to report current COVID-19 vaccination status to NHSN. The up-to-date definition applies when reporting data through the NSHN COVID-19 Vaccination Modules and the Resident Impact and Facility Capacity (RIFC) Pathyway for first quarter (Q1) 2023. </div><div> </div><div>Individuals are considered up-to-date with the COVID-19 vaccines during the surveillance period from December 26, 2022, through March 26, 2023, for the purpose of NHSN reporting if they meet one of the following criteria: </div><div><br></div><div><ul><li>Received an updated (bivalent) booster dose; or </li><li>Completed their primary series less than two months ago </li></ul></div><div><br></div><div>As of Q1 2023, monovalent boosters are no longer included in the up-to-date definition and individuals are only considered up to date if they meet one of the two criteria above. </div><div> </div><div>You can find more information about the up-to-date definition in the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/pdfs/hps/covidvax/UpToDateGuidance-508.pdf" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["60b7cbf17788425491b2d083"]" target="_blank">CDC’s COVID-19 Vaccination Modules Key Terms guide</a>.<br></div> | It is crucial to report current COVID-19 vaccination status to NHSN. | |
CDC, FDA to Investigate Weak Signal for Stroke in Seniors with Pfizer Bivalent Vaccine | https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/CDC-FDA-to-Investigate-Weak-Signal-for-Stroke-in-Seniors-with-Pfizer-Bivalent-Vaccine.aspx | CDC, FDA to Investigate Weak Signal for Stroke in Seniors with Pfizer Bivalent Vaccine | | | | | 1/13/2023 5:00:00 AM | | <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">The CDC and FDA </span><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/bivalent-boosters.html" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["60b7cbf17788425491b2d083"]" target="_blank" style="font-size:11pt;">issued preliminary findings</a><span style="font-size:11pt;"> about monitoring the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine’s safety that discusses an initial increase of strokes in their safety monitoring data for the Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 vaccine. As part of routine surveillance, the CDC detected a preliminary signal for stroke in people ages 65 and older who received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 bivalent mRNA vaccine. However, this statistical signal is lower than the signals seen for other issues related to the vaccines. As a response to the signal, the CDC and FDA examined several large databases including: </span></p><div><br></div><div><ul><li>Medicare’s database of 5 million doses </li><li>The Veterans’ Affairs’ database of millions of veterans </li><li>Israel’s database </li><li>Various European countries’ databases </li></ul></div><div><br></div><div><strong>To date, the aforementioned organizations have not seen an association or increased risk in stroke from vaccines in these databases. The totality of the data currently suggests that it is very unlikely that the initial signal represents a true clinical risk. </strong></div><div><br></div><div>However, for the sake of transparency, the FDA and CDC are issuing a statement about the signal and the results of their investigation so far. Putting this preliminary data in context, we know that the bivalent vaccine significantly lowers the risk of develop serious symptoms, being hospitalized or dying from COVID-19 compared to those who have either already been infected or been vaccinated but without a booster. The COVID-19 virus causes more complications and death among individuals over the age of 65, particularly those with health conditions. </div><div> </div><div><strong>This announcement does not change AHCA/NCAL’s recommendation for residents to be vaccinated.</strong> Should a person have concerns, they may also request the Moderna bivalent vaccine which did not have an increased signal for strokes. <br></div> | The CDC and FDA issued preliminary findings about monitoring the bivalent COVID vaccine’s safety that discusses an initial increase of strokes in their safety monitoring data for the Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 vaccine. | |
CMS Issues Third Edition of the QRP COVID-19 Public Reporting Tip Sheet | https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Blog/Pages/CMS-Issues-Third-Edition-of-the-QRP-COVID-19-Public-Reporting-Tip-Sheet.aspx | CMS Issues Third Edition of the QRP COVID-19 Public Reporting Tip Sheet | | | | | 1/13/2023 5:00:00 AM | | <p></p><div>The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced an updated third edition of the <a href="https://www.cms.gov/files/document/2022novembersnf-third-edition-qrp-public-reporting-tip-sheet.pdf" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["60b7cbf17788425491b2d083"]">SNF QRP Public Reporting (PR) Tip Sheet</a>. </div><div><br></div><div>The tip sheet provides the following updates on SNF QRP PR: </div><div><br></div><div><ul><li>Adoption of a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) measure, Influenza Vaccination Coverage among Healthcare Personnel (National Quality Forum (NQF) #0431), beginning with the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 SNF QRP. </li></ul></div><div><br></div><div><ul><li>Inaugural reporting of the COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage among Healthcare Personnel (HCP), reported through CDC NHSN, and SNF Healthcare Associated-Infections (HAI) Requiring Hospitalization claims-based quality measures (QMs). </li></ul></div><div><br></div><div><ul><li>Definition of the quarters for reporting of claims-based QMs displayed on Care Compare and the Provider Data Catalog (PDC). </li></ul></div><div><br></div><div>The tip sheet also discusses the revised data submission threshold related to the SNF QRP annual payment update. </div><div><br></div><div>The purpose of the tip sheet is to help providers understand CMS’ public reporting approach to the SNF QRP to account for CMS quality data submissions that were either optional or excepted from public reporting due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The impacts on CMS’ Care Compare website refreshes are also outlined. This tip sheets serves as companion documents to the first and second edition QRP COVID-19 PR Tip Sheets published in 2020 and 2022. </div><div><br></div><div>Content-related questions about the tip sheet should be submitted to the <a href="mailto:SNFQualityQuestions@cms.hhs.gov" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["60b7cbf17788425491b2d083"]" target="_blank">SNF QRP Help Desk</a>. </div><div><br></div><div>Additional background and training resources are available on the<a href="https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/NursingHomeQualityInits/Skilled-Nursing-Facility-Quality-Reporting-Program/SNF-Quality-Reporting-Program-Training" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["60b7cbf17788425491b2d083"]" target="_blank"> SNF QRP Training page</a>. Providers with questions about accessing the resources or feedback regarding the trainings can email <a href="mailto:PACTraining@EconometricaInc.com" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["60b7cbf17788425491b2d083"]" target="_blank">PAC Training</a>. <br></div> | CMS announced an updated third edition of the SNF QRP Public Reporting Tip Sheet. | |