Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
On March 11, 2020, Governor Lujan-Grisham announced 3 cases of COVID-19 were identified in New Mexico, one in Bernalillo County and 2 in Socorro County. All three people had recently traveled to other areas where COVID-19 is prevalent.
As NMHCA continues to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation in New Mexico, the Association has decided to close its Albuquerque office beginning Saturday, March 21 until further notice.
For staff email addresses and phone numbers, please visit the about us page here.
NMHCA/NMCAL would like to remind facilities to take the time to update your contact lists for family members. Communication is extremely important during this time.
Click here to access the AHCA Nurse Aide Training
PPE Ordering Information
Requests for PPE should submit Form ICS 213RR to your local Emergency Manager.
Download Emergency Manager List
Use the temporary membership option to gain access to the PPE forum in the members-only section.
New Mexico Department of Health Downloads
Testing Mandate NF/ALF 5-27-2020
Testing Non-compliance Letter 5-27-2020
Testing Guidance Nursing Homes only- 5-4-2020
DOH Expanded Guidance - 4-17-2020
DOH Limitation on Visitation Guidance - All members
NM Reporting Portal Instructions
Resource Request Form-ICS213RR
Aging and Long-Term Services Department Tablet Instructions
Guidance on Staff traveling and living out of state
Download PPE Guidance and Contact information here.
DOH Order Closing Visitation - English Version
Press Release on Visitor Prohibition - English Version
DOH Order Closing Visitation - Spanish Version
Press Release on Visitor Prohibition - Spanish Version
Stop Spread of Germs Sign, English
Stop Spread of Germs Sign, Spanish
NMDOH Approved Visitor Checklist
NMCAL Family Communication Template for Assisted Living
The NM Division of Health Improvement Guidance.
For Assisted Living
In an effort to ensure the safety and well-being of New Mexico’s assisted living residents and families, the Department of Health has deployed its health care survey team to conduct onsite visits of the 269 licensed assisted living facilities statewide.
State survey staff will focus on providing CDC infection control guidance, written visitor protocols, and address staff, family, and resident questions or concerns.
For Skilled Nursing Facilities
Per CMS guidance, DHI has prioritized infection-control issues as “ IJ” priority assignment in nursing homes. They will deploy survey staff within 2 days of a report of issues surrounding infection outbreak or infection control noncompliance. They are continuing all nursing home survey work as outlined in SOM and will meet all survey workload intervals.
They will continue with typical survey work as outlined in SOM and will meet all survey workload intervals.
Webinar Information
The NMHCA/NMCAL Webinar presented by the NMDOH, Department of Epidemiology on March 10, 2020, can be viewed here. The slides are available for download here.
The AHCA/NCAL webinar presented by officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on March 3 was recorded. You can access the recording here.
The CDC Webinar regarding COVID-19 presented on March 5 was recorded. You can access the recording and slides here.
CMS Guidance
Helpful Resources
Download Information on Telehealth from the New Mexico Telehealth Alliance
The Behavioral Health Division (BHSD) is collaborating with certified Treat First behavioral health providers to help address resident needs. For more information on this program, please download the announcement here.
ALTSD's Create and Connect campaign has a big push is to get people to write letters to long-term care residents. Click here for more information.
NMHCA/NMCAL Update Calls
April 2, 2020, Nursing Facility Call
April 6, 2020, Nursing Facility Call
April 8, 2020, Assisted Living Call
April 13, 2020, Nursing Facility Call
April 15, 2020, Assisted Living Call
April 20, 2020, Nursing Facility Call
April 22, 2020, Assisted Living Call
April 27, 2020 Nursing Facility Call
April 29, 2020, Assisted Living Call
May 4, 2020, Nursing Facility Call
May 6, 2020, Assisted Living Call
May 11, 2020, Nursing Facility Call
May 13, 2020, Assisted Living Call
May 18, 2020, Nursing Facility
May 20, 2020, Assisted Living Call - Not available due to technical difficulties
CDC Information
CDC LTC mini webinars
They are all published on the Key Strategies to Prepare for COVID-19 in Long-term Care Facilities (LTCFs) web page at the bottom under a “Webinar Series” section. These new webinars will be a great training tool/resource for frontline long-term care staff members. Also listed are three “Additional Resources” to this page.
Here are the direct links to each webinar:
Cloth Mask Guidance
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/assisted-living.html
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone practice effective handwashing and to stay at home if you have any symptoms of illness. Click here for CDC resources for preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the general public.
The CDC is providing Interim Guidance for Risk Assessment and Public Health Management of Healthcare Personnel with Potential Exposure in a Healthcare Setting to Patients with COVID-19
The CDC is providing information and resources specific to Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in LTC Facilities.
The CDC has provided guidance on implementing home care. Click here to access this guidance.
The CDC is providing information on Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators.
The CDC is providing information on Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Confirmed COVID-19 or Persons Under Investigations for COVID-19 in Healthcare Settings.
The CDC has Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to COVID-19.
The CDC does not currently recommend the general public to use face masks. Centers should educate families and visitors on signs and symptoms of respiratory illness and encourage them to visit with loved ones through alternative means when they are ill, such as telephone, Skype, or wearing a mask during visits.
The CDC has issued Interim Guidance for Public Health Professionals Managing People with COVID-19 in Home Care and Isolation Who Have Pets or Other Animals.
Facts about COVID-19 provided by the CDC can be found here.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is providing a list of disinfectants to fight COVID-19.
New Mexico Department of Health Information
- If you did not receive the link to the mandatory reporting portal or had problems resetting your password as instructed, please email DOH-LTCReport@state.nm.us
- Requests for test kits should go to the NMDOH Operations Center (DOC) using Form ICS 213RR and emailed to Coordinator.DOC@state.nm.us.
- Requests for PPE should go to your local Emergency Manager-submit Form ICS 213RR .
- Download Emergency Manager List
- Report possible COVID-19 --call 505- 837-0006. An epidemiologist will work with you to get the specimen collected. That will be sent for testing, and you will be notified as soon as the results come back. There is no cost for the test through the state scientific lab.
- You also need to report any cases to the NM Division of Health Improvement at (800) 752-8649, or by fax at (888) 576-0012, or by email, incident.management@state.nm.us. You may also complete online at http://dhi.health.state.nm.us.
- Download PPE Guidance and Contact information here.
AHCA Information
AHCA Notice on 3 - Day Waiver
AHCA Statement on CMS March 13, 2020, Guidance
Assisted Living Visitor Guidance
COVID-19 Online Resources Page
Guidance for Preventing COVID-19 in Skilled Nursing Centers
Screening Checklist for Visitors to Skilled Nursing Centers
Guidance for Preventing COVID-19 in Assisted Living Communities
COVID-19 Email Updates
- March 10 - NMHCA/NMCAL COVID19 Update 1
- March 10 - NMHCA/NMCAL COVID19 Update 2
- March 11 - NMHCA/NMCAL COVID19 Update 3
- March 14 - NMHCA/NMCAL COVID19 Update 4
- March 14 - NMHCA/NMCAL COVID19 Update 5
- March 17 - NMHCA/NMCAL COVID19 Update 6
- March 18 - NMHCA/NMCAL COVID19 Update 7
- March 20 - NMHCA/NMCAL COVID19 Update 8
- March 24 - NMHCA/NMCAL COVID19 Update 9
- March 27 - NMHCA/NMCAL COVID19 Update 10
- March 30 - NMHCA/NMCAL COVID19 Update 11
- April 2 - NMHCA/NMCAL COVID19 Update 12
- April 6 - NMHCA/NMCAL COVID19 Update 13
- April 9 - NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 14
- April 10 - NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 15
- April 14 - NMHCA/NMCAL Covid 19 Update 16
- April 16 - NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 17
- April 17 - NMHCA/NMCAL Covid 19 Update 18
- April 20 - NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 19
- April 24 - NMHCA/NMCAL Covid 19 Update 20
- April 27 - NMHCA/NMCAL Covid 19 Update 21
- April 28 - NMHCA/NMCAL Covid 19 Update 22
- April 30 - NMHCA/NMCAL Covid 19 Update 23
- May 3 - NMHCA/NMCAL Covid 19 Update 24
- May 4 - NMHCA/NMCAL Covid 19 Update 25
- May 6 - NMHCA/NMCAL Covid 19 Update 26
- May 8 - NMHCA/NMCAL Covid 19 Update 27
- May 8 - NMHCA/NMCAL Covid 19 Update 28
- May 11, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid 19 Update 29
- May 14, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid 19 Update 30
- May 15, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid 19 Update 31
- May 15, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid 19 Update 32
- May 18, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid 19 Update 33
- May 19, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid 19 Update 34
- May 26, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid 19 Update 35
- May 27, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid 19 Update 36
Legal Considerations for Senior Care and Living Providers in Light of COVID-19
With news that a nursing facility in Kirkland, Washington has multiple confirmed cases of COVID-19, legal compliance is likely at the top of senior care and living providers’ minds. Having a plan in place to mitigate risk and ensuring compliance with rules and regulations is important during situations like this. Click here for guidance covering legal and regulatory considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Many thanks to the professional team at Lane Powell and the Washington Health Care Association for this information.