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.
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
The State of New Mexico has a support line specifically for healthcare workers and first responders. NMHCA/NMCAL encourages facilities to download the flyer here and post it in their facility.
PPE Ordering Information
Requests for PPE should submit Form ICS 213RR to your local Emergency Manager.
New Mexico Department of Health Downloads
Holiday Guidance for LTC Facilities
Home Care and Hospice Testing Guidance
NHSN and DoH Reporting Info Sheet
Crisis Staffing Guidance - Updated November 6, 2020
Crisis Staffing Guidance - November 5, 2020
October 21 DHI letter addressing hold on dining and visitation
Corrected Positivity Rates November 11-December 1, 2020
Assisted Living Testing Guidance - October 15, 2020
September 28 Guidance on Testing, Visitation, and others. - NOT FOR ALFs
CMP Template for Visitation Structures
Ombudsman Guide on Absentee Ballots
Compassionate Care Visitation Guidance
Letter of Direction: AL Medicaid COVID Rate Increase - 8/2020
Frequently Asked Questions for Visitation
Facility Visitation Guidance - 8-10-2020
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
All calls prior to September 1 can be found on the Archive Page
September 9, 2020, Assisted Living
September 16, Assisted Living Call
September 21, 2020, Nursing Facility Call
September 23, 2020, Assisted Living Call
No recording for September 25, 2020, ICF Call - State hosted
September 28, 2020, Nursing Facility Call
September 30, 2020, Assisted Living Call
October 5, 2020, Nursing Facility Call
Download the October 5, 2020, Q&A
October 7, 2020, Assisted Living Call
October 9, 2020, ICF Call
CDC Information on Covid19 Vaccine
October 14, 2020, Assisted Living Call
October 19, 2020, Nursing Facility Call
October 21, 2020, Assisted Living Call
October 23, 2020, AL and NF Admission Call
October 26, 2020, Nursing Facility Call
October 26, 2020, AL and NF Admission Call
October 29, 2020, Assisted Living Call
November 2, 2020, Nursing Facility Call
November 4, 2020, Assisted Living Call
November 9, 2020, Nursing Facility Call
Handout 1 - PDF
Handout 2 - Excel
November 11, 2020, Assisted Living Call
November 16, 2020, Nursing Facility Call
November 18, 2020, Assisted Living Call
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 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
- Nursing Facility Survey
Please complete this short 2 question survey ASAP https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NHbedcapacity regarding your facility’s bed count. - 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 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
Bulletins published prior to September 1, 2020, are located on the archive page.
- September 1, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 65
- September 2, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 66
- September 3, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 67
- September 9, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 68
- September 11, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 69
- September 14, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 70
- September 15, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 71
- September 18, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 72
- September 23, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 73
- September 23, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 74
- September 24, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 75
- September 28, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 76
- October 1, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 77
- October 2, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 78
- October 6, NMHCA, 2020/NMCAL Covid19 Update 79
- October 7, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 80
- October 9, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 81
- October 14, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 82
- October 15, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 83
- October 16, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 84
- October 21, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 85
- October 22, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 86
- October 23, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 87
- October 27, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 88
- October 28, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 89
- Ocotober 29, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 90
- November 3, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 91
- November 5, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 92
- November 5, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 92
- November 9, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid 19 Update 93
- November 11, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 94
- November 12, 2020, MHCA/NMCAL Covid 19 Update 95
- November 17, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid 19 Update 96
- November 18, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 97
- November 19, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 98
- November 20, 2020, NMHCA/NMCAL Covid19 Update 99
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.