Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Please note the attached Emergency Order from the New Mexico Superintendent of Insurance (SOI). This Order was issued pursuant to the December 5th Public Health Emergency declared by the NM Department of Health and addresses prior authorization barriers to patient transfers.

Per the August 2022 Public Health Order, facilities, including ALs have been directed to follow CMS guidance/requirements for Covid19. For more information, you can visit https://www.cms.gov/nursing-homes.

NM Division of Health Improvement's Memo to Facilities on Masks may be downloaded here.

QSO on Testing

QSO on Visitation

As always, members may reach out to staff for assistance.

DoH Visitation Tool Kit

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

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:

Sparkling Surfaces

Clean Hands

Closely Monitor Residents

Keep COVID-19 Out!

PPE Lessons

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.

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.

New Mexico Department of Health Information

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.