Kentucky Guidance Updates

 KENTUCKY GUIDANCE UPDATES
FAQs on Testing, Phased Reduction of Restrictions for Long-Term Care Facilities
 

Here is the most recent guidance from the OIG which references the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidance.
Guidance regarding dining, activities, and visting
Guidance regarding admission, discharge and transfers
FAQ’s on Testing

Activities and Dining

The CDC guidance on activities and dining Updated Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations in Response to COVID-19 Vaccination | CDC allows fully vaccinated residents to dine and participate in activities without face coverings or social distancing if all participating residents are fully vaccinated.

If unvaccinated residents are dining in a communal area (e.g., dining room) ALL residents should use source control when not eating and unvaccinated patients/residents should continue to remain at least 6 feet from others.

• EXAMPLE: If 1 of 30 residents dining in a communal area is not vaccinated, then everyone should mask and socially distance.

 
On-Site Visiting

All Long Term Care Facilities should adhere to the revised CMS guidelines QSO-20-39-NH REVISED (cms.gov).
 
When the federal guidelines call for applying a county positivity rate, Kentucky providers should apply the relevant county incidence rate shown on the Kentucky Long-Term Care Facility COVID-19 County Indicator Map, available here LTCCountyMapLatest.pdf (ky.gov) and updated on the 1^st and 3^rdThursday of each month).
 
Off-Site Travel
 
Quarantine should not be necessary – regardless of vaccination status – after an Essential Off-Site Medical Appointment unless there is known exposure to a COVID-19 case or a specific, serious breach in core infection prevention and control practices is suspected.
 
While the guidance discourages off-site travel for any purpose other than an Essential Medical Appointment, facilities should educate residents who take off-site social excursions about potential risks.
 
Admission, Discharge and Transfer
 
This updated LTCAdmissionDischargeXferGuidanceMemo.pdf (ky.gov)addresses new admissions and re-admissions. Ideally, fully vaccinated newly admitted residents should not enter a quarantine area.  If space does not allow for this, the provider should assure the resident can effectively

• Avoid individuals that are currently in quarantine
• Limit time in communal areas in the quarantine area
• Follow source control protocols while receiving services
• Host visitors outside of a quarantined area

 
Frequently Asked Questions about Testing
 
These Frequently Asked Questions LTCFSurveillanceTestingFAQs.pdf (ky.gov)address CMS QSO-20-38-NH REVISED (cms.gov) which reflects evidence from CDC exempting fully vaccinated employees from surveillance testing and changing the testing frequency for yellow and green counties on the LTCCountyMapLatest.pdf (ky.gov) to monthly.

For any questions regarding updates to guidance, please contact Lisa Biddle-Puffer.