Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Positivity Rates April 7-20
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
Normal requests for PPE should submit Form ICS 213RR to your local Emergency Manager.
Members can access the emergency manager list via the members' only section. Non-members will find it in the Covid19 Bulletin
New Mexico Department of Health Downloads
Intermediate Care Facility LOD 4/2/21
Updated Letter of Direction 4/1/21
Updated Visitation Guidance 3-24-2021 - REVISED 4-1-2020
Updated Testing Guidance 3-5-2021
Updated Compassionate Care Guidance 3-5-21
Updated Visitation Guidance - 3-4-2021
Post-Third Vaccine Guidance
Vaccine Provider List
NM DoH LOD on Infection Control Training
TRAIN Instructions for IC Training
HAN: Breakthrough Case Reporting
Version 2 of LTC Letter of Direction - Updated February 4, 2021
LTC Letter of Direction - Updated January 25, 2021
Vaccine Directive - January 20, 2021
Updated Nursing Facility Guidance - December 23, 2020
Updated Assisted Living Guidance - December 23, 2020
Hospice Guidance/Letter of Direction - December 23, 2020
Curative Testing Upload Template
NM Department of Health Letter of Direction - December 2020.
NMHCA/NMCAL Checklist for Covid + Reporting
Assisted Living PPE Opportunity
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
Positivity Rates December 1-8, 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
Curative Test Website for Additional Video Training
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
Calls published prior to February 1, 2021, are located on the archive page.
February 1, 2021, Nursing Facility Call
February 3, 2021, Assisted Living Call
February 5, 2021, ICF Call
February 8, 2021, Nursing Facility Call
February 10, 2021, Assisted Living Call
February 15, 2021, Nursing Facility
February 17, 2021, Assisted Living Call
February 19, 2021, ICF Call - contact talter@nmhca.org for access.
February 22, 2021, Nursing Facility Call
February 24, 2021, Assisted Living Call
March 1, 2021, Nursing Facility Call
March 3, 2021, Assisted Living Call
March 8, 2021, Nursing Facility Call
March 10, 2021, Assisted Living Call
March 15, 2021, Nursing Facility Call
March 17, 2021, Assisted Living Call
March 19, 2021, ICF Call - Cancelled
March 22, 2021, Nursing Facility Call
March 24, 2021, Assisted Living Call
March 26, 2021, ICF Call - Cancelled
March 29, 2021, Nursing Facility Call
March 31, 2021, Assisted Living Call
April 5, 2021, Nursing Facility 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 February 1, 2021, are located on the archive page.
- March 12, 2021, Covid 19 Update
- March 10, 2021, Covid 19 Update
- March 9, 2021, Covid 19 Update
- March 3, 2021, Covid 19 Update
- February 24, 2021, Covid 19 Update
- February 23, 2021, Covid 19 Update
- February 22, 2021, Covid 19 Update
- February 10, 2021, Covid 19 Update
- February 5, 2021, Covid 19 Update
- February 4, 2021, Covid 19 Update 1
- February 4, 2021, Covid 19 Update 2
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.