This week the Governor’s office confirmed that plans are underway to test all residents and staff of long term care facilities, including SNFs, AL, AFH, Memory Care units. This proposal was in development just before the White House requested that nursing homes become a priority for testing in the next two weeks.

The logistics of this undertaking significant and, at our urging, the implementation and protocols are being carefully considered by Dept of Health, local health jurisdictions, the Governor’s office, Residential Care Services.  We will continue to have discussions and provide input as this plan develops.  

At this time, and it could change as the plan is finalized, the sequence for testing will be all skilled nursing by the end of May, Memory Care in Assisted Living in June and Adult Family Homes in July.  We acknowledge this is an ambitious and somewhat daunting plan that ultimately relies on the availability of test kits and PPE. The amount of extra test kits would be approximately 37,000 for May, 93,000 each month for June and July.  The estimated amount of PPE would be 74,000 gloves for May, 186,000 each month for June and July.  This doesn’t include masks, face shields or gowns.  Where this PPE will come from is unclear, and where the resulting PPE for any positive residents will come from is also unclear.

And there are several questions that need to be answered, such as, what if staff or residents refuse to test, what will the interval testing for staff be once the baseline is established, are we prepared to address asymptomatic positive residents and staff, who covers the staff test cost in the absence of insurance coverage, who conducts the testing (provider staff or outside entity), will testing include independent living residents in LPCs, will it include other senior living settings such as LIHTC or affordable housing properties, what if residents and staff were previously tested?  These answers must be fully considered and known before testing can begin.

LeadingAge WA is pleased that LTC has been prioritized for testing, which will be particularly important as our state reopens its economy.  For many, testing has arrived too late but it can hopefully save lives going forward.  

We will continue to keep you updated on the plan as it continues to develop.

Questions?

Contact:

Laura Hofmann, MSN, RN – Director of Clinical and Nursing Facility Regulatory Services
c: 324-231-4804