In our ongoing efforts to advocate for home and community-based care providers and the patients and families they serve, AAHC has partnered with Maricopa County and Pima County Health Departments to strategize on a process to get vulnerable patients and their caregivers vaccinated in their home.  Two meetings have been held to provide information about the vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) as well as discuss the requirements to become a Vaccinator and the logistics involved with providing the vaccine to vulnerable home-bound populations.

Vaccinators Needed

Home Health, Hospice and Palliative Care Providers ARE NEEDED to be Vaccinators and provide the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine to home-bound patients and their families/caregivers in the home as well as agency staff to ensure
vulnerable populations within our community are being protected and the vaccine allotted is used efficiently.

Good to Know

• In order to be a vaccinator, in-home care providers will need to have a licensed healthcare provider (with a NPI).
• Due to the less stringent storage and handling requirements, the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine is better suited for home health, hospice and palliative care Vaccinators.
• Providers interested in becoming authorized are invited to complete the AzDHS Pandemic Vaccine Provider Onboard Form (https://redcapaipo.azdhs.gov/surveys/?s=DY8CA9LMJ8). Please note that the onboarding form identifies ultra-cold storage but this is for the Pfizer vaccine only.  There are still equipment requirements for the Moderna vaccine storage - please see the form for more details.
• The vaccine and ancillary kits are provided free of charge - approved Vaccinators may request the vaccines (in doses of 100 - 10 doses to a vial).
• Insurance may be billed for the administration of the vaccine (there is not intended to be a co-pay or out of pocket expenses for the individual receiving the vaccine).
• For AHCCCS beneficiaries: Vaccinators will need to be enrolled with AHCCCS in order to be able to bill the vaccine administration fee. Providers can register with AHCCCS at: https://www.azahcccs.gov/PlansProviders/APEP/Access.html.
  
• Vaccinators are required to report to the state's Immunization System ( ASIIS). Instructions for how to do so are included in the onboarding.

AAHC Members:  login to view additional information available in the Coronavirus Resource Library.

Also, we’re hiring staff to help support our ramp up efforts, including in Phoenix. You’re welcome to share  https://jobs.battelle.org/ListJobs?Keyword=CCDS

For organizations within Arizona that would like to learn more about how to enroll in this program, they can contact Battelle directly www.solutions@battelle.org/N95 and fill out the Battelle CCDS^TM inquiry form. 

The disaster declaration will provide Arizona access to expanded mental health care, supplement the efforts of tribal health care workers, provide grants to reduce the risk of loss of life or property during future emergencies, make available legal assistance to low-income Arizonans, expand food assistance and other services to low-income households impacted by COVID-19 and more.

Read More

Click here to view the downloadable document.

What this Means for Providers:

Home Health Agencies and In-Home Care Providers are specifically INCLUDED in the Essential Services clarification provided on March 23 - view here: https://azgovernor.gov/governor/news/2020/03/list-essential-services  - this means home health and in-home care services to patients and clients in the community should continue as they are currently being provided as long as they can be done in a safe manner that protects both the patient and care professional..  

AAHC encourages home health and in-home care staff working in the community to carry their state photo ID as well as their company badge identifying them as being employed by an essential employer.  

Check out the Coronavirus Resource Center for more information and updates for both Providers and Patients.

send questions about reporting to azopioid@azdhs.gov.
(Note: healthcare professionals or administrators of a health care institution licensed under 9 AAC 10 are required to report under the executive order and under the emergency rules).

• Establish, document, and implement policies and procedures for prescribing, ordering, or administering opioids;
• Include specific processes related to opioids in a health care institution’s quality management program; and
• Notify the Department of the death of a patient from an opioid overdose.
• The emergency rules have been approved with an implementation date of July 28, 2017.  Click here to view rules

Webinars about the emergency rules have been scheduled. Click here for more info. 
 
Resources
www.azhealth.gov/opioid
You can respond by doing one of the following: 
• Click the appropriate response in the following list of response options,
• Or, reply via email with your response option, such as 2.
Option#    Response: 

Resources:

• Article from Board Regulatory Journal
• Q&A Document

Beginning on September 21, 2015, travelers from Liberia will no longer be tracked or monitored by public health. CDC recommends healthcare providers CONTINUE TO SCREEN patients with Ebola-like symptoms with travel from Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea within 21 days.  Clinicians should routinely ask all patients about TRAVEL HISTORY, which can be crucial for identifying infectious diseases. Country-specific health notices can be found at: cdc.gov/travel. 

For more information on patient monitoring and screening recommendations, please see the ADHS Ebola website at: http://azhealth.gov/ebola.

Public health contacts are at: http://www.azdhs.gov/phs/oids/contacts.htm.

Please note that licensed home health agencies are exempt from this specific statute.  AAHC recommends Members be prepared to address questions regarding this from their patients and those that are not licensed as a home health, be prepared with the Statement of Business Practices as prescribed for in the statute.

For more information, please contact the AAHC office.