Coronavirus (COVID-19)

HHSC - HCSSA

• HHSC HCSSA Provider COVID-19 FAQ's - 121420
• HHSC HCSSA Emergency Rule TAC 558.960 - 093020 (Replaced Emergency Rule 558.408 - 041720) 
• HHSC HCSSA Hospice Inpatient Unit Emergency Rule TAC §558.950. Hospice Inpatient Units COVID-19 Response--Reopening Visitation. - 120320
• HHSC - Local Health Entities - Texas
• HHSC - Long-Term Care Regulatory Regional Contact Numbers
• HHSC - General Provider Checklist - COVID-19
• HHSC - PL20-35 Screening for COVID-19 and Documentation of Screening - 072020

Alerts

•  PL 2021-03 - Transition to Three-year License Term and Survey Periods - 012221

• Multiple Medicaid COVID-19 Flexibilities Extended Through January 21, 2021, or Through January 31, 2021 - 121520
• Information Letter No. IL20-46 (Replaces IL20-12) Renewal of ID/RC Assessments and IPCs and Requirements for Revised IPCs and Transfer IPCs - 102920  
• Information Letter 2020-08 COVID-19 Guidance for FMSAs and Consumer Directed Services (CDS) Employers (REVISED: December 15, 2020) 
• Issued 080320 - Existing EVV Users: Temporary Policies for COVID-19 Extended to Oct. 23, 2020
• Issued 080320 - Update - Extensions of Eligibility and IPC Revisions for People in HCS and TxHmL
• Issued 080320 - Update - Extensions of Eligibility and IPC Revisions for People in CLASS and DBMD
• Issued 073120 - HHSC Postpones the Implementation of Administrative Penalty Rules for HCS and TxHmL Providers
• Issued 073120 - COVID-19 Update to Telehealth Guidance on CLASS Professional and Specialized Therapies
• Issued 073020 - Emergency Rules for LTC Providers Extended
• Issued 072120 - CMS Lifts Suspension of Enforcement Activity Effective June 1
• Issued 070220 - HCSSA Alert - Existing EVV Users - COVID Policies Extended to July 31 2020
• Issued 070120 - HCSSA Alert - PAS Agencies ONLY - Screening Documentation Compliance Date Extended to July 22, 20
• Issued 070120 - HCSSA Alert - ALL Other Agencies - Screening Documentation Compliance Date Extended to July 22, 20

Webinars

• HHSC HCSSA Provider FAQ COVID-19 Webinar – January 22, 2021 
• HHSC HCSSA Provider FAQ COVID-19 Webinar – January 8, 2021 
• HHSC HCSSA Provider FAQ COVID-19 Webinar – December 18, 2020 
• HHSC HCSSA Provider FAQ COVID-19 Webinar – December 4, 2020
• HHSC HCSSA Provider FAQ COVID-19 Webinar – November 20, 2020
• HHSC HCSSA Provider FAQ COVID-19 Webinar – November 4, 2020
• HHSC HCSSA Provider FAQ COVID-19 Webinar – October 23, 2020
• HHSC HCSSA Provider FAQ COVID-19 Webinar – October 9, 2020
• HHSC HCSSA Provider FAQ COVID-19 Webinar - September 11, 2020
• HHSC HCSSA Provider FAQ COVID-19 Webinar - August 28, 2020
• HHSC HCSSA Provider FAQ COVID-19 Webinar – August 14, 2020
• HHSC HCSSA Provider FAQ COVID-19 Webinar - July 31, 2020
• HHSC HCSSA Provider FAQ COVID-19 Webinar – July 17, 2020

Provider and Information Letters

• HHSC Provider Communications - All Provider and Information Letters

Infection Control Checklists

• HHSC - Infection Control Home Health and Hospice Training
• CMS Prioritization of Survey Activity Memo - Home Health and Hospice Infection Control Checklist (Acute and Continuing Care, page 19)
• HHSC Infection Control Checklist for PAS agencies

Assisted and Nursing Facilities

• Assisted Living Facility Guidance on COVID-19 Issued by Long-term Care Regulatory HHSC

 Community Programs:

• HHSC COVID Guidance for Community Attendants and Home Caregivers

Certified Community Programs:

• HHSC - Coronavirus (COVID-19) Home and Community-based Services and Texas Home Living Weekly FAQ's - 033120

Medicaid and CHIP Services Information

• HHSC - Medicaid and CHIP Services Information for Providers (Webpage) – Use this website to monitor Medicaid flexibilities and locate past Medicaid CHIP COVID-19 Stakeholder Information Session recordings under the Past Information Sessions tab.  Current pre-recorded sessions are posted at the top of the website by 1:00 PM each Thursday.
• COVID-19 FAQ (FAQs) for State Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Agencies - 063020
• HHSC - MCO Questions: COVID-19 - 042320

DSHS

VACCINE INFORMATION 

• DSHS COVID-19 Vaccine FAQ’s - 123120
• COVID-19 Vaccination Hub Providers Webpage 
• Governor Abbott, DSHS Vaccine Distribution Plan for Texas - 112320
• Texas COVID-19 Vaccination Plan - 101620
• Texas Vaccine Data Portal
• COVID-19 Vaccination-Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program
• How to become a COVID-19 Vaccinator - Provider Enrollment
• COVID-19 Vaccine Information for Public, HCP and LTC Facilities
• Texas DSHS Immunization Program Portal
• COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions - 012021 
• Texas DSHS Immunization Portal Registration Guide (ImmTrac2)
• COVID-19 Vaccine Management Resources
• COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation & Ordering System (VAOS) Training Guide
• Tips and Tricks for Enrolling in the COVID-19 Vaccination Program
• Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS)

General

• DSHS - Guidance for Public Health Home Service Providers - 081520
• DSHS - Guidance for Public Health Home Service Providers- Spanish - 082720
• DSHS - COVID-19 and Newborn Screening
• DSHS - Information on PPE - 032220
• DSHS - Strategies for Optimizing Supply of PPE - 040720
• DSHS - State of Texas Assistance Request (STAR) process (PPE Assistance)

TEXAS COUNTY VACCINE INFORMATION

• Texas Association of Counties Website (Use this website to access the latest vaccine information for your county)

CDC

• CDC – When to Quarantine - 121020 
• CDC - Interim Guidance for Implementing Home Care of People Not Requiring Hospitalization for COVID-19 (Home Care) - 101620
• CDC - Information for Healthcare Professionals about COVID-19 - 122820
• CDC - Discontinuation of Isolation for Persons with COVID -19 Not in Healthcare Settings (Patients) - 120320
• CDC - Public - When to Quarantine (This guidance details scenarios regarding household members sharing a household with COVID positive people) - 121020
• CDC – Making a Strong Recommendation for COVID-19 Vaccination 
• CDC – Answering Patient’s Questions 
• CDC - Understanding and Explaining mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines 
• CDC - COVID-19 Vaccination Communication Toolkit for HCP Staff 
• CDC – Vaccination for You and Your Family 
• CDC - 8 Things to Know about the U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination Program 

Vaccine Information 

• CDC – COVID-19 Vaccination 122920 
• The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ Interim Recommendation for Allocating Initial Supplies of COVID-19 Vaccine — United States, 2020 - 121120
• CDC – What Clinicians need to know about the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine - 121320
• CDC – Information about the Moderna Vaccine - 012521 
• Post Vaccine Considerations for Healthcare Personnel - 121320
• Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines Currently Authorized in the United States – 012121
• V-safe After Vaccination Health Checker - 012121 
• COVID-19 Vaccine Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) Fact Sheets for Recipients and Caregivers

Clinical Care

• CDC - Clinical Care Guidance for Healthcare Professionals about COVID-19 - 100920
• CDC - Evidence based list of underlying medical conditions that increase a person’s risk of severe illness from COVID-19 - 110220
• CDC - Discontinuation of Transmission-Based Precautions and Disposition of Patients with COVID-19 in Healthcare Settings - 081020
• CDC - Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers - 010721

Infection Control

• CDC - COVID-19 Infection Control Guidance for Healthcare Professionals - 121420
  
  
  • PPE
    • CDC - Using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - 081920  

• • • CDC -Strategies to Optimize the Supply of PPE and Equipment during Shortages - 071620 

• • • CDC - PPE Burn Rate Calculator - 041020
    • CDC - PPE FAQ's - 080820
    • CDC - How to properly DON and DOF PPE
    • CDC - Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of Facemasks - 062820  

• FIT testing (See more under OSHA heading)

• CDC - Strategies for Best N95 Respirator Fit in Times of Crisis 
• CDC - The Need for Fit Testing During Emerging Infectious Disease Outbreaks - 040120

• Hand Hygiene

• CDC - HCP Hand Hygiene Recommendations - 051720

Return to Work and Staffing Shortages

• CDC - Criteria for Return to Work for Healthcare Personnel with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 (Interim Guidance) - 081020 
• CDC - Strategies to Mitigate Healthcare Personnel Staffing Shortages (coincides with return to work guidance) - 121420 
• CDC - Guidance for Risk Assessment and Work Restrictions for Healthcare Personnel with Potential Exposure to COVID-19 - 121420 
• CDC - Public Health Guidance for Community-Related Exposure - 120320 (coincides with Guidance for Risk Assessment and Work Restrictions for Healthcare Personnel with Potential Exposure to COVID-19)  

Testing

• CDC - Overview of Testing for COVID-19 - 102120
• CDC - Interim Guidelines for Collecting, Handling, and Testing Clinical Specimens for COVID-19 - 010621 

Pediatric

• CDC - Information for Pediatric Healthcare Providers - 123020 

HCP Training

• CDC - Training for Healthcare Professionals - 012521 

Preparedness 

• CDC - Preparedness Tools for Healthcare Professionals and Facilities Responding to COVID-19 - 112520

Public Health

• CDC - Public Health Activity Guidance - 040920 – Intended for Managers and their staff engaged in public health clinic settings and field outreach activities in state and local health departments.

Cleaning and Disinfecting

• CDC - Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility - 072820 
• CDC - Cleaning and Disinfection for Community Facilities - 091020 

BON: 

• BON - Frequently Asked Questions: Personal Protective Equipment during the COVID-19 Pandemic 

• BON - APRN Practice FAQs - COVID-19 
• BON - COVID-19 Education Webpage 
• BON - COVID-19 Resource Page

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS):

• Palmetto GBA - COVID-19 Webpage
• CMS COVID-19 Webpage
• CMS – COVID-19 Vaccine Policies and Guidance Webpage
• Palmetto - COVID-19 Accelerated/Advance Payment (AAP) Repayment FAQ
• October 2020 CMS Quarterly OASIS Q&As 
• July 2020 CMS Quarterly OASIS Q&As
• CMS Medicare Telehealth FAQ's
• CMS - COVID-19 FAQs on Medicare Fee-for-Service Billing - 010721 
• Palmetto - COVID-19 Accelerated/Advance Payment (AAP) Repayment FAQ - 101320
• CMS - COVID-10 Waivers and Flexibilities Webpage
• CMS - COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers for Health Care Providers
• CMS - Home Health Agencies: CMS Flexibilities to Fight COVID-19 - 110420 
• CMS - Hospice: CMS Flexibilities to Fight COVID-19 - 110420 
• CMS - Revised Survey Prioritization Memo - 081720
• CMS Guidance onCMS - Prioritization of Survey Activities - 032320
• CMS - Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention Concerning Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Home Health Agencies (HHAs) - 031020
• CMS - All Medicare Advantage Organizations, Part D Sponsors, and Medicare-Medicaid Plans - Information Related to COVID-19 - 031020
  
  

FDA

• FDA – COVID-19 Vaccine Webpage
• FDA - FAQ's COVID-19 - 012621 
• FDA - Updates on (Do not use) Hand Sanitizers with Methanol - 012621 
• Pfizer-Biontech COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet for Recipients
• Pfizer-Biontech COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet HCP Administering Vaccine
• Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet for Recipients
• Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet for HCP Administering Vaccine 
• FDA - COVID-19 Educational Resources for staff and patients

OSHA

• Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace - 012921
• OSHA - Temporary Enforcement Guidance - Healthcare Respiratory Protection Annual Fit-Testing for N95 Filtering Facepieces During the COVID-19 Outbreak - 031420

• OSHA - Expanded Temporary Enforcement Guidance on Respiratory Protection Fit-Testing for N95 Filtering Facepieces in All Industries During the Coronavirus - 040820

• OSHA - Existing OSHA standards apply to COVID-19

• OSHA - Healthcare Workers COVID-19 Webpage

• OSHA - Respiratory Training Website

HIPAA (OCR)

• OCR Announces Notification of Enforcement Discretion for Use of Online or Web-Based Scheduling Applications for the Scheduling of COVID-19 Vaccination Appointments - 011921
• OCR Issues Guidance on HIPAA, Health Information Exchanges, and Disclosures of Protected Health Information for Public Health Purposes - 121820
• OCR - HIPAA Privacy and Novel Coronavirus - 022020
• HHS-OCR - HIPAA COVID-19 Webpage

OIG 

• OIG COVID-19 Webpage
• OIG – Fraud Alert - 121820 
• Toolkit: Insights for Communities From OIG's Historical Work on Emergency Response - 080320
• Toolkit: Insights for Health Care Facilities From OIG's Historical Work on Emergency Response - 080320
• OIG COVID-19 FAQ's

Fraud (DOJ)

• DOJ - Fraud Alert - 113020 
• DOJ - COVID Resource Page

Payroll Protection Program (SBA)

• SBA Paycheck Protection Program Webpage
• SBA - PPP FAQ's for borrowers - 120920 
• SBA - Frequently Asked Questions on PPP Loan Forgiveness - 101320

Cares Act Provider Relief Fund (HHS)

• HHS - Provider Relief Fund: For Providers Webpage 
• HHS - Provider Relief Fund FAQ's Webpage
• HHS - News Release 073120 - HHS Extends Application Deadline for Medicaid Providers and Plans to Reopen Portal to Certain Medicare Providers 

IRS

• IRS - Coronavirus Resource Webpage
• IRS - FAQ's on Provider Relief-Payments
• IRS - Employee Retention Credit 
• IRS - FAQs: Employee Retention Credit under the CARES Act
• IRS - COVID-19-Related Tax Credits for Required Paid Leave Provided by Small and Midsize Businesses FAQs

Employment (DOL)

• DOL - COVID-19 and the American Workplace - Resource Page
• DOL - Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Questions and Answers
• DOL - COVID-19 and the Fair Labor Standards Act Questions and Answers
• DOL - COVID-19 and the Family and Medical Leave Act Questions and Answers

EEOC 

• What You Should Know About EEOC - COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws - 121620  (SEE SECTION K FOR VACCINE INFORMATION)

Texas Workforce Commission (TWC)

• TWC - COVID-19 Employer Resources Webpage

Training Materials (Patients and Staff) 

• HHSC - Helping Residents with Dementia Prevent the Spread of COVID-19
• HHSC - Helping Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and Related Conditions Prevent the Spread of COVID-19
• WHO - Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) training: Online training Webpage
• HHS - ASPRTRACIE - COVID-19 Healthcare Workforce Training Resources Webpage
• CDC - Print Resources, Flyers, etc. Webpage
• TMA - Risk Assessment Chart 
• TMA - Risk Assessment Chart (Spanish)
• Debunking COVID-19 Vaccine Myths
• American Medical Association Vaccine FAQ’s for Patients
• gov – Vaccine FAQ’s 
• Texas Medical Association – Vaccines Defend What Matters (formerly Be Wise Immunize) Website 
• TWC – Lunchtime Live Webinars (These are 1.5 hour webinars that are intended to help employers through employment laws during the pandemic) 

Governor’s Office

• Texas Coronavirus Webpage
• COVID-19 State of Texas Executive Orders 
• Texas - Find COVID-19 Testing Sites

Member Only Resources

• COVID-19 State Flexibility Update Webinar & Handouts - 041620
• COVID-19: Home Health & Hospice: Keep the Cash Flowing - 041620
• Teletherapy Toolkit
• Medicaid STAR Kids MCO Teletherapy
• TAHC&H Member’s Daily News Updates COVID19

• CARES Act Webinar + Handouts