Memorandum
To: Mass Senior Care Members
From: Tara M. Gregorio, President
RE: COVID-19 Updates: EOHHS Issues Surveillance Testing FAQ and Request to Complete MSCA Survey Today
Date: July 14, 2020
EOHHS Issues Surveillance Testing FAQ
Last night EOHHS issued an FAQ for Long Term Care Facility Surveillance Testing which is established in Nursing Facility Bulletin 148: COVID-19 Baseline and Surveillance Testing Requirements for Nursing Facilities and the Department of Public Health’s June 30th guidance.
The state will provide supplemental payments for “facility arranged” staff testing as outlined in Administrative Bulletin 20-69: 101 CMR 206.00: Standard Payments to Nursing Facilities.
Nursing facilities are required to report information about the tests conducted and the results weekly via a new electronic survey. The first report is due by 12:00 p.m. on Monday, July 20, 2020, after the baseline Testing Period. Facilities must also submit weekly reporting using the same online survey by 12:00 p.m. each Friday, beginning July 31, 2020. To access the survey, navigate to this link: https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/5678159/covid-nf-surveillance.
Nursing facilities may partner or contract with hospitals, community health centers, ambulance/emergency medical services providers, clinical laboratories, or other entities able to provide COVID-19 testing services. In an effort to support members with surveillance staff testing, Mass Senior Care has established a partial list of testing providers that we will continue to update:
- NEW Concentric by Ginkgo – A saliva-based testing service - including kits, shipping logistics, processing, results, and the option for on-site coordination. Mass Senior Care is working to establish this program; for more information, please see https://www.concentricbyginkgo.com/.
- COMING SOON The Broad Institute and Pro EMS Solutions – Mass Senior Care is working to establish a program for long term care providers to access kits, processing and results. More information will be available shortly.
- Transformative – A collaborative of EMS providers have come together to provide baseline mobile testing to nursing facilities. Facilities can access the service via www.fallonambulance.com/covidtesting.
MSCA Member Survey on Surveillance Testing
We also encourage members to please complete the brief MSCA survey on surveillance testing, due today, July 14th.