www.ny.argentum.orgArgentum New York | Advocating for Quality Care and Informed Choice

c policy initiatives advocating for informed choice, quality care, and accessibility for all New Yorkers. Argentum New York is dedicated to advancing public policy initiatives advocating for informed choice, quality care, and accessibility for all New Yorkers.    Ginger Landy glandy@ny.argentum.org About About Argentum NY Contact Advisory Board Membership About Argentum NY Membership Provider Membership Industry Partners Policy Assisted Living Regulations Assisted Living Laws Elder Abuse Reporting Upcoming Events Event Calendar Education Resources Provider Resources Consumer Resources Consumer Information Guide News Argentum NY News Argentum National Senior Living News Ginger Lynch Landy Meets with Congressman Paul Tonko Argentum New York Executive Director Ginger Lynch Landy meets with Congressman Paul Tonko to discuss public policy matters. Argentum New York Leaders Meet with Joan Lunden Argentum New York Board Chair Steve Lampa and Executive Director Ginger Lynch Landy join author and activist Joan Lunden to advocate for seniors. Argentum Public Policy Institute Attendees Visit Congressman Paul Tonko Argentum New York Executive Director Ginger Lynch Landy and Board Chair Steve Lampa, along with Public Policy Institute attendees, visit Congresman Paul Tonko in his Washington, DC, office. Argentum NY Members Receive Advocacy Star Awards Janice Simon of Sunrise Senior Living and Katie Burzynski-Barraclough of Brookdale Senior Living receive Advocacy Star Awards from Argentum COO Maribeth Bersani. Honoring Assembly Member Raia Argentum NY Executive Director Ginger Lynch Landy and Board Chair Steve Lampa present Assembly Member Andrew Raia with our Champion for Seniors Award. Advocacy Day 2019 Attendees enjoy Argentum New York's 2019 Advocacy Day briefing. Brookdale Senior Living Supports 13th Annual Advocacy Day Representatives from Brookdale Senior Living show their support during Argentum New York's 13th Annual Advocacy Day in Albany. Argentum NY Members Experience Policy at Work Argentum New York members attend the Assembly Health Committee meeting during 2019 Advocacy Day activities. Weinberger Receives Advocacy Star Award Mark Weinberger of Maplewood Senior Living receives an Advocacy Star Award from Argentum New York Executive Director Ginger Lynch Landy. Argentum NY Members Gather in Albany for Advocacy Day Argentum COO Maribeth Bersani, left, joins several Argentum New York members during Advocacy Day in June 2019. Porceng Receives Gold Star Maribeth Bersani, COO of Argentum, presents Alescia Porceng of Brookdale Senior Living with an Advocacy Star Award. ‹ › Welcome to Argentum New York COVID-19 Vaccine Information Federal Updates HHS Pharmacy Partnership Program On October 16th, HHS announced that it has partnered with CVS and Walgreens for the complete management of the COVID-19 vaccination process for long-term care communities. Currently, no vaccines have received FDA-authorization, but the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program is being established in anticipation that one or more COVID-19 vaccines will be available before the end of the year. HHS has indicated that CVS and Walgreens will also be scheduling and coordinating dates for vaccine administration on-site at each community. This may involve multiple visits over the course of approximately two months to administer vaccine doses (if more than one required) to residents and staff. The deadline for senior living providers, including assisted living and independent living community providers, to opt-in to HHS’ pharmacy partnership program for vaccine management has been extended to Friday, November 6. (The previous deadline was Friday, October 30.) NYS Updates New York State has created a program, similar to the federal pharmacy program, that adult care facility and assisted living providers can enroll in to ensure access to a COVID-19 vaccine once one becomes available. New York City providers will have a separate program just for that region. The Department has posted information detailing the program which can be found here: (use attachments in second email). We know there are many unknowns at this point in time but we strongly encourage you to enroll in both the State (or NYC) program and the federal program to prevent any access issues or gaps. Send questions regarding the NYSDOH enrollment process to: COVID19Vaccine@health.ny.gov Health Advisory Revised Adult Care Facility Visitation Resumption of Salon Services in ACFs and ALRs NYS Long-Term Care Facilities Immunization Program Enrollment Letter CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Program Provider Agreement Coalition of New York Adult Care/Assisted Living Providers Seek State Relief from Extraordinary Year Of Covid-19 Related Costs Argentum New York Letter to the Editor COVID-19 Resources Wadsworth Center Lists Labs With Excess Testing Capacity Labs with the greatest excess capacity, and a current reported average turn-around time of less than 4 days, are listed each week on the Wadsworth Center website here . Please check back frequently as the list is updated regularly. DOH Advisories and Directives New Health Advisory September 9, 2020: Visitation in Adult Care Facilities Please follow this link for the publication which provides healthcare providers in New York State, including ACFs and ALRs, with a consolidated update of guidance released by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) related to the COVID-19 pandemic response. This will show the current guidance for any given topic and will be updated to reflect new guidance. Here is the updated Return to Work Policy. DAL C20-01 re-iterates the recent Executive Orders regarding reporting COVID-19 positive cases and COVID-19 related deaths to family members and next of kin and also highlights best practices for keeping residents and families engaged during the pandemic. Here are Updated Criteria for Discontinuing Isolation for Residents with COVID-19 . Follow this link for the requirements for new admissions and re-admissions to ACFs/ALRs after hospitalization. The Advisory specifically states that no resident shall be denied re-admission or admission to the ACF solely based on a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of COVID-19. Please click here to access the COVID-19 Infection Control checklist for ACFs/ALRs and here for the accompanying guidance document. Executive Orders The Governor has issued Executive Order 202.40 , which modifies E.O. 202.30 by mandating that staff of ACFs/ALRs in regions that have entered Phase 2 only need to be tested once per week. Read the DAL and FAQs on staff testing requirements and and the Hospital Discharge Directive. Mandatory Reporting COVID-19 HERDS Survey responses will be required daily throughout the pandemic. DOH reminds all providers to be as accurate as possible with respect to resident and census information. NYS DOH is requiring all assisted living providers to enter and update data on their residents for the COVID-19 HERDS survey on the Health Commerce System needs each day no later than 3 p.m. All demographic information is pre-populated. Please remind staff that roles on the Health Commerce System need to be up to date and all fields should be completed in order for the survey to be submitted. The following roles on the HCS can complete the Survey: Administrators, Data Reporter, Emergency Response Coordinator, HPN Coordinator, Director of Resident Services. Argentum Coronavirus Preparation and Response Toolkit Argentum has created a Coronavirus Toolkit that contains excellent information and additional resources for providers of assisted living. Some highlights from the Toolkit include the use of personal protective equipment, best practices for cleaning major touchpoints, monitoring and surveillance, communication plans and a What to do Now” checklist. Upcoming Webinar 12/10: Best Practices for Infection Prevention and Control for Assisted Living Argentum recently released new Guidance for Infection Prevention and...