Embedded Files
remedy – for example in the form of an industry-led or independent ratings system – such that consumers can clearly see what services are offered by different funeral directors and be better able to judge between firms along the price spectrum. 1.4 Summary The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the costs faced by funeral directors and their ability to earn sufficient revenues to cover these. It has also revealed features of the industry such as Ramsey pricing and the absence of direct cost-reflectivity in many business models. This emphasises the fact that the CMA’s price regulation remedies could have a significant impact on the ability of firms to recover costs, and could lead to unintended consequences such as higher prices for basic funeral services, market exit and a decline in the quality and range of services offered. At the very least, the CMA should be cognisant of the difficulties inherent in setting an average revenue or standard benchmark price cap in the face of disrupted pricing practices and changing consumer preferences for funeral services. Finally, the changes in the wider market such as remote funeral arrangement and highlighted evidence of varying service and quality levels between firms should be taken into account by the CMA when considering the effectiveness of other remedies, such as transparency initiatives and quality regulation. OBJECTIVE: This toolkit catalogs the many innovative solutions designed at the state level to protect our nation’s vulnerable nursing home residents during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Beginning in October 2020, the toolkit includes up-to-date information, guidance, and innovative programs designed to increase vaccine use against influenza virus, pneumococcus (bacterium), and SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. STAKEHOLDERS WHO PROVIDED INPUT INCLUDE GOVERNORS’ OFFICES AND GOVERNORS’ COVID-19 TASK FORCES: • State affiliates of the American Health Care Association (AHCA) • State affiliates of the American Hospital Association (AHA) • LeadingAge state chapters • State Bureaus of Health Provider Standards • State and county Departments of Public Health • State chapters of the Society for Post-Acute and Long-term Care Medicine (formerly AMDA) • State and private universities • Health facilities licensing and certification agencies • State Departments of Epidemiology • State long-term care Ombudsman offices • State health care-acquired infection programs • Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) state chapters • Nursing home corporations • State accountable care organizations • State telemedicine programs • Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) • The Veterans Health Administration • U.S. corporations • State Departments of Emergency Management • State Infectious Diseases Associations • State Departments of Aging • State Medicaid programs • CMS regional offices • End-stage renal disease (ESRD) networks • Governors’ reopening task forces • State health care coalitions for disaster response • State Project ECHO programs • State rural health associations • American Medical Association (AMA) state chapters • State primary care associations 4 ORGANIZATION OF THE DOCUMENT: • This document has been optimized to help you find information quickly and easily. While the content is organized into sections, you may also rely on key word searches and the index to help you locate the information you need. • Major categories include: o State actions for COVID-19 Management and Response, now including vaccinations o Telehealth o Organizations Available to Assist Nursing Homes • State-specific information is included when available. • The new vaccination section initially focuses on reliable sources of information available at the national level but will explore state-based innovative programs in subsequent editions, especially as vaccination against COVID-19 becomes more widely available. COVID-19 vaccination may require advanced strategies in the vaccine delivery system (such as dual-dose vaccines and complex “cold-chain management”) that providers will need to master in order to be successful. • When possible, references are given for the innovations, including links to contacts and resources for more information. 5 I. STATE ACTIONS FOR COVID -19 MANAGEMENT AND RESPONSE 1. CLEANING/DISINFECTION Alabama (AL) Alabama Hospital Association, Alabama Department of Public Health • Alabama has access to a Battelle Critical Care Decontamination Systems (CCDS)™ located in Birmingham. Hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care providers have been encouraged to send their N95 masks for decontamination, free of charge, including shipping. The unit can decontaminate 80,000 masks per day https://www.alaha.org/initiating-battelle-n95-decontamination Office of the Governor Kay Ivey • Specially trained and equipped National Guard teams disinfect nursing homes that have COVID19-positive residents. These teams will train staff on the techniques of donning and doffing personal protective equipment as well as sanitize and disinfect nursing homes that have COVID19-positive residents and/or employees Arizona (AZ) Haven Health Group and Pioneer Health Group • Uses a UV machine to disinfect face shields, N95 masks, iPads, nurse
Report abuse