The Board of Directors of United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of Long Island recently appointed Colleen Crispino as President and Chief Executive Officer.

“We are privileged to have someone of Colleen Crispino’s caliber and experience joining us to lead UCP of Long Island,” said Thomas Pfundstein, Board Chair.

Crispino brings a wealth of experience to UCP, with a 25 year demonstrated track record of strong leadership skills including program development, strategic planning, corporate communications, team building and staff  development.

Crispino has a career long passion for enhancing the lives of people with disabilities. She is a seasoned advocate with an extensive history of working collaboratively with elected government officials.

A New York native, she comes to UCP of Long Island with more than two decades of experience working with agencies that provide services to adults and children with disabilities. In her previous role, Crispino was the Chief Program Officer for The Viscardi Center on Long Island. She has held positions as the Assistant Executive Director for ACLD and was the Chief Operating Officer for Head Injury Association.

Crispino has a Master’s of Science in rehabilitation counseling from Hofstra University and a Bachelor of Science degree from Boston University. She has also worked as an Adjunct Faculty Professor for Hofstra University.

“I look forward to working in partnership with our dedicated board and staff to enhance the lives of those we serve.
Together we can increase our visibility and promote our vital mission in our community and to the businesses of Long Island. The increased community presence will enable us to create a LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS for individuals with disabilities” said Crispino.

“We’re honored to welcome Colleen Crispino to the CP State family,” said CP State CEO and President Susan A. Constantino.

“I’m looking forward to supporting Colleen and UCP Long Island in their mission to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities,” said CP State Executive Director Mike Alvaro.

The Department of Health has released updated guidance for Medicaid providers regarding the use of Telehealth, including Telephonic, services during the COVID-19 State of Emergency. The accompanying Frequently Asked Questions document has also been updated. These documents are available on the Department of Health Medicaid Update web page at https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/program/update/2020/index.htm, or via the links below.

Medicaid Update: https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/program/update/2020/no05_2020-03_covid-19_telehealth.htm

Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/covid19/faqs.htm

A summary of the changes is provided below.

• Clarification regarding payment parity for telehealth and telephonic services
• Provides additional details regarding billing and coding instructions, including POS and Modifier codes to use in each of the telephonic billing lanes
• Clarifies definitions of telehealth, telemedicine and telephonic services.
• Clarifies billing rules for Article 28 services with a Professional Component
• Revises billing rules for FQHCs to allow wrap payments for licensed practitioners providing services via telehealth or telephone
• Clarifies requirements for Medicaid Managed Care Plans
• Provides additional links to other resources

The intent of this guidance is to provide broad expansion for the ability of all Medicaid providers in all situations to use a wide variety of communication methods to deliver services remotely during the COVID-19 State of Emergency, to the extent it is appropriate for the care of the member.

Telehealth services will be reimbursed at parity with existing off-site visit payments (clinics) or face-to-face visits (i.e., 100% of Medicaid payment rates). This guidance relaxes rules on the types of clinicians, facilities, and services eligible for billing under telehealth rules.

Webinar Regarding Medicaid Telehealth Guidance During the COVID-19 Emergency

On Tuesday, May 5, 2020 from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM, the Department of Health Office of Health Insurance Programs will host a webinar to review Comprehensive Guidance Regarding Use of Telehealth including Telephonic Services During the COVID-19 State of Emergency

To register for the Webinar please visit https://meetny.webex.com/meetny/onstage/g.php?MTID=e5f212ed128ffe5f173d478348226385e.

This webinar will provide an overview of the guidance and cover frequently asked questions. Additional questions will be addressed by webinar participants, as time permits. A recording of the webinar will be also made available on the Department’s website.

On  April 28, OPWDD released “Revised Staff Guidance for the Management of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Facilities or Programs Operated and/or Certified by the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities.”

The guidance addresses the following topics (click to jump to section):

• Visitation and Community Outings
• Staffing Health Checks for All Settings
• When there are Suspected or Confirmed Cases of COVID-19
• Additional Staffing Practices with Suspected or Confirmed Cases of COVID-19
• Hand Washing
• Use of Hand Sanitizer
• Environmental Hygiene
• Individual Placement
• Personal Protective Equipment
• What to Do When PPE Supply is Low

More information on the NYS Department of Health (DOH) and the Center for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) recommendations can be found at:

• DOH: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home
• CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

A. Visitation and Community Outings

All visitation remains suspended for all OPWDD settings, except when medically necessary (i.e. visitor is essential to the care of the individual or is providing support in imminent end-of-life situations), for family members of individuals in imminent end-of-life situations, or those providing Hospice care. Community outings should be minimized to only those that are medically necessary and as limited in number and duration as possible. Facilities must provide other methods to meet the social and emotional needs of individuals, such as video calls. Facilities shall post signage notifying the public of the suspension of visitation and proactively notify individuals’ family members.

B. Staffing Health Checks for All Settings

Health checks should be implemented for all direct support professionals and other facility staff at the
beginning of each shift, and every twelve hours thereafter. This includes all personnel entering the
facility, regardless of whether they are providing direct care to individuals. This monitoring must
include a COVID-related symptom screen and temperature check. The site should maintain a written
log of this data.

All facility staff with relevant symptoms or with a temperature greater than or equal to 100.4 F should
immediately be sent home and quarantined until test results, or presumptive diagnosis, is obtained.
All staff who have worked in close proximity with the presumed infected staff member, in addition to
all individuals living in the residential setting, should also be quarantined.

C. When there are Suspected or Confirmed Cases of COVID-19

The following steps must be taken when any individual living in a residential facility, certified or
operated by OPWDD, is identified as having a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19:

1. Notify the local health department and the OPWDD Incident Management Unit, in accordance
   with “OPWDD Guidelines for Implementation of Quarantine and/or Isolation Measures at StateOwned and Voluntary Providers in Congregate Settings,” issued March 11, 2020.
2. All individuals in the residential setting should be placed in quarantine and all affected
   individuals should remain in their rooms. Cancel group activities and communal dining. Offer
   other activities for individuals in their rooms to the extent possible, such as video calls.
3. All staff working at the facility, who have had contact with the individual, should maintain
   quarantine in accordance with the “COVID-19 Protocols for Direct Support Personnel to Return
   to Work”, issued March 28, 2020. Impacted staff members must, remain quarantined in their
   home when not at work.
4. Do not float staff between units or between individuals, to the extent possible. Cohort
   individuals with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, with dedicated health care and direct care
   providers, to the extent possible. Minimize the number of staff entering individuals’ rooms.
5. Staff must actively monitor all individuals in affected homes, once per shift. This monitoring
   must include a COVID-related symptom screen and temperature check. The site should
   maintain a written log of this data for later review. If the individual’s symptoms worsen, notify
   their healthcare provider that the individual has suspected or confirmed COVID-19. If the
   individual has a medical emergency and you need to call 911, notify the dispatch personnel
   that the individual has, or is being evaluated for, COVID-19.
6. Other individuals living in the home should stay in another room, or be separated from the sick
   individual, as much as possible. Other individuals living in the home should use a separate
   bedroom and bathroom, if available.

Make sure that shared spaces in the home have good air flow, such as by an air conditioner or an
opened window, weather permitting.

D. Additional Staffing Practices with Suspected or Confirmed Cases of COVID-19

All settings certified or operated by OPWDD should continue to implement the following staffing
considerations, to the extent possible:

1) Maintain similar daily staff assignments into or out of sites that serve individuals with a
confirmed or suspected diagnosis of COVID-19.

2) Limit staff assignments into or out of sites that serve individuals who had contact with a person
with a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of COVID-19.

3) Assign staff to support asymptomatic individuals with a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of
COVID-19.
a. If the individual with a confirmed exposure begins to show signs and symptoms consistent with COVID-19, those exposed staff should not be reassigned to other sites.

4) Any staff member showing symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should be directed to stay
home, or if the symptoms emerge while at work, sent home immediately.

E. Hand Washing

Handwashing is the most effective strategy for reducing the spread of COVID-19. Proper handwashing saves lives at work and at home.

Germs can spread from other people or surfaces when you:

• Touch your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands;
• Prepare or eat food and drinks with unwashed hands;
• Touch a contaminated surface or objects; or
• Blow your nose, cough, or sneeze into your hands and then touch other people’s hands or
  common objects.

When to Wash Hands: Direct support professionals and other facility staff should perform hand
hygiene before and after all individual contact, contact with potentially infectious material, and before
donning (putting on) and after doffing (removing) PPE, including gloves. Hand hygiene after doffing
PPE is particularly important, to get rid of any germs that might have been transferred to bare hands
during the removal process.

You can help yourself and your loved ones stay healthy by washing your hands often, especially
during these key times when you are likely to get and spread germs:

1. When starting work;
2. Before handling medications;
3. Before assisting individuals with personal hygiene (toileting, bathing, shaving, menstrual care,
   wound care, etc.);
4. After assisting with personal hygiene tasks;
5. Before, during, and after preparing food;
6. After using the bathroom;
7. After coughing, sneezing, or smoking;
8. Before donning disposable gloves;
9. After doffing disposable gloves;
10. After touching garbage;
11. After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste;
12. After handling pet food or pet treats; and
13. Before leaving work.

During the COVID-19 public health emergency, you should also clean hands:

1) After you have been in a public place and touched an item or surface that may be frequently
touched by other people, such as door handles, tables, gas pumps, shopping carts, or
electronic cashier registers/screens, etc.

2) Before touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.

How to Wash Hands: Follow Five Steps to Wash Your Hands the Right Way: Washing your
hands is easy, and it’s one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs. Clean hands
can stop germs from spreading from one person to another and throughout an entire community—
from your home and workplace to childcare facilities and hospitals.

Follow these five steps every time.

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), and apply soap.

2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands,between your fingers, and under your nails.

3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds.

4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.

5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

All facilities should ensure that hand hygiene supplies are readily available to all personnel in
every care location.
Every staff member, whether they are involved in direct support tasks or not, is encouraged to watch
the CDC training videos on handwashing, available at https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/index.html.

F. Use of Hand Sanitizer

Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to get rid of germs. However, if soap and water
are not readily available, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60%
alcohol. You can tell if the sanitizer contains at least 60% alcohol by looking at the product label.
Staff should perform hand hygiene by using hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol or washing
hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If hands are visibly soiled, use soap and water.
Sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in many situations. However,
• Sanitizers do not get rid of all types of germs.
• Hand sanitizers may not be as effective when hands are visibly dirty or greasy.
• Hand sanitizers might not remove harmful chemicals from hands like pesticides and heavy
metals.
How to use hand sanitizer
• Apply the gel product to the palm of one hand (read the label to learn the correct amount).
• Rub your hands together.
• Rub the gel over all the surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry. This
should take around 20 seconds
Access to Hand Sanitizer
Hand sanitizer should be readily available throughout the residential setting. At a minimum, there
should be a hand sanitizer station near the front door of the facility, in the kitchen/dining room, and in
the living room/common room, if one exists. Hand sanitizer should be present at the bedroom door of
each individual. If staff are not wearing gloves, staff should use hand sanitizer whenever they enter or
exit an individual’s bedroom. To the extent that individuals in the home are at risk of ingesting the
hand sanitizer, or engaging in other unsafe behaviors with it, the location of hand sanitizer throughout
the residential facility may need to be modified, or staff may need to carry refillable pocket size hand
sanitizers on their person.

G. Environmental Hygiene

The transmission of the COVID-19 virus can be reduced by maintaining a germ-free environment.
The following measures should be taken at all facilities:
• Clean all “high-touch” surfaces, such as counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures,
toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables, every shift. Bedroom and bathroom
doorknobs are prime locations for germ transmission.
• Clean any surfaces that may have blood, stool, or body fluids on them. Use a household
cleaning spray according to the label instructions. Labels contain instructions for safe and
effective use of the cleaning product, including precautions you should take when applying the
product, such as wearing gloves and making sure you have good ventilation during use of the
product.
• If the residence requires the use of a shared bathroom, bathroom surfaces must be cleaned
after every use.
• Avoid sharing household items with the individual. Individuals should not share dishes, drinking
glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, bedding, or other items. After the individual uses these
items, wash them thoroughly.
• Wash laundry thoroughly. Immediately remove and wash clothes or bedding that have blood,
stool, or body fluids on them.
• Staff should wear disposable gloves while handling soiled items and keep soiled items away
from the body. Staff should clean their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand
sanitizer immediately after removing gloves.
• Read and follow directions on labels of laundry or clothing items and detergent. In general, use
a normal laundry detergent according to washing machine instructions and dry thoroughly
using the warmest temperatures recommended on the clothing label.
• Place all used disposable gloves, facemasks, and other contaminated items in a lined
container before disposing of them with other household waste. Staff should clean their hands
with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer immediately after handling these
items. Soap and water should be used if hands are visibly dirty.
• Staff should discuss any additional questions with their supervisor or assigned nursing staff or
contact the state or local health department or healthcare provider, as needed. Check
available hours when contacting the local health department.

H. Individual Placement

Maximal effort should be made to separate individuals who are either infected or presumed to be
infected with COVID-19, from those who are thought not to be infected. When hospitalization is not
medically necessary, care in the home must be provided as safely as possible and should consider
the following:
• If possible, move an individual with COVID-19 to a separate cohorted setting, potentially in a
different location or home.
• Whenever possible, place an individual with known or suspected COVID-19 in a single-person
room with the door closed. If possible, the individual should have a dedicated bathroom.
• As a measure to limit staff exposure and conserve PPE, agencies could consider designating
entire programs within the agency, with dedicated staff, to care only for individuals with known
or suspected COVID-19.
• Determine how staffing needs will be met as the number of individuals with known or
suspected COVID-19 increases and staff become ill and are excluded from work.
Please note that it might not be possible to distinguish individuals who have COVID-19 from
individuals with other respiratory viruses. As such, individuals with different respiratory viruses will
likely be housed together.

I. Personal Protective Equipment

PPE is used by healthcare personnel, including direct support staff and clinicians, to protect themselves, individuals, and others, when providing care. PPE helps protect staff from potentially infectious individuals and materials, toxic medications, and other potentially dangerous substances used in healthcare delivery. However, PPE is only effective as one component of a comprehensive program aimed at preventing the transmission of COVID-19. Facilities and programs should consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance to optimize the supply of PPE and equipment through conventional, contingency, and crisis strategies at
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/ppe-strategy/index.html.

When Caring for Individuals who are NOT Infected with or Presumed to be Infected with COVID-19:
Consistent with current practice, all staff are instructed to wear a facemask, at all times, while at work.
This is intended to reduce COVID-19 transmission from potentially infected staff, who may be
asymptomatic. While at work, the facemask will be standard PPE.
When Caring for Individuals who are Infected with or Presumed to be Infected with COVID-19:
Individuals confirmed or suspected of having COVID-19 should wear a facemask when around other
people, unless they are not able to tolerate wearing one (for example, because it causes trouble
breathing). Staff should always wear a mask when in the same room as that individual.
Staff should perform hand hygiene before and after all individual contact, contact with potentially
infectious material, and before donning and doffing PPE, including gloves. Hand hygiene after
removing PPE is particularly important to get rid of any germs that might have been transferred to
bare hands during the removal process.
The PPE protocol recommended when caring for an individual with known or suspected COVID-19
includes:
• Facemasks
o Put on facemask upon entry into the group home, and wear at all times while in the
work setting.
o As needed, implement extended use of facemasks. Wear the same facemask for
multiple individuals with confirmed COVID-19 without removing between individuals.
Change only when soiled, wet, or damaged. Do not touch the facemask.
o If necessary, use expired facemasks.
o Prioritize facemasks for staff rather than as source control for individuals. Have
individuals use tissues or similar barriers to cover their mouth and nose. Assist
individuals with this as needed.
o If necessary, implement limited re-use of facemasks. Do not touch outer surface of
facemask. After removal, fold so that outer surface in inward and store in breathable
container, such as a paper bag, between uses. This facemask should be assigned to a
single staff member. Always perform hand hygiene immediately after touching the
facemask.
o When splashes or sprays are anticipated, use a face shield covering the entire front and
sides of the face. Use goggles if face shields are not available.
o The use of cloth masks, or other homemade masks (e.g., bandanas, scarves), for
clinical and direct support staff providing direct care to individuals, is not recommended.
o For further information, consult the CDC guidance entitled “Strategies for Optimizing the
Supply of Facemasks”, available at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-
ncov/hcp/ppe-strategy/face-masks.html.
• N95 Respirators
o All staff wearing N95 respirators should undergo medical clearance and fit testing.
o N95 Respirators offer a higher level of protection and should be worn, if available, for
any aerosol-generating procedures or similar procedures where there is the potential for
uncontrolled respiratory secretions.
o As needed, implement extended use of N95 respirators. Wear the same respirator for
multiple individuals without removing between individuals. Change only when soiled,
wet, damaged, or difficult to breathe through. Do not touch the respirator.
o If necessary, use expired N95 respirators; refer to CDC guidelines entitled “Release of
Stockpiled N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators Beyond the Manufacturer-Designated
Shelf Life: Considerations for the COVID-19 Response”, available at
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/release-stockpiled-N95.html.
o If necessary, implement limited re-use for individuals with COVID-19, if possible with
decontamination between uses; refer to FDA guidance entitled “Personal Protective
Equipment Emergency Use Authorization”, available at https://www.fda.gov/medicaldevices/emergency-situations-medical-devices/emergency-useauthorizations#covid19ppe. In addition to the approved method, refer to CDC guidance
entitled “Decontamination and Reuse of Filtering Facepiece Respirators using
Contingency and Crisis Capacity Strategies”, available at
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/ppe-strategy/decontamination-reuserespirators.html. If not decontaminated, an important risk is that the virus on the outside
of the respirator might be transferred to the wearer’s hands, leading to transmission to
the health care personnel or other individuals. It is critical to avoid touching the
respirator while worn and during or after doffing and to perform rigorous hand hygiene.
Assign to a single staff person and store in a breathable container, such as a paper bag,
between uses. For further information consult the CDC guidance entitled
“Recommended Guidance for Extended Use and Limited Reuse of N95 Filtering
Facepiece Respirators in Healthcare Settings”, available at
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/hcwcontrols/recommendedguidanceextuse.html.
• Eye Protection
o Put on eye protection (i.e., goggles or a disposable face shield that covers the front and
sides of the face) upon entry to an individual’s room or care area. Personal eyeglasses
and contact lenses are NOT considered adequate eye protection.
o Remove eye protection before leaving the individual’s room or care area.
o Reusable eye protection (e.g., goggles) must be cleaned and disinfected according to
manufacturer’s reprocessing instructions, prior to re-use. Disposable eye protection
should be discarded after use.
• Gloves
o Put on clean, non-sterile gloves upon entry into an individual’s room or care area.
o Change gloves if they become torn or heavily contaminated.
o Remove and discard gloves when leaving the individual’s room or care area, and
immediately perform hand hygiene.
• Gowns
o Put on a clean isolation gown upon entry into an individual’s room or care area. Change
the gown if it becomes soiled. Remove and discard the gown in a dedicated container
for waste or linen when leaving the individual’s room or care area. Disposable gowns
should be discarded after use. Cloth gowns should be laundered after each use.
o If there are shortages of gowns, they should be prioritized for:
▪ Aerosol-generating procedures;
▪ Care activities where splashes and sprays are anticipated;
▪ High-contact individual care activities that provide opportunities for transfer of
germs to the hands and clothing of staff. Examples include:
▪ Dressing;
▪ Bathing/showering;
▪ Transferring;
▪ Providing hygiene;
▪ Changing linens;
▪ Changing briefs or assisting with toileting;
▪ Device care or use; and
▪ Wound care.

J. What to Do When PPE Supply is Low

Critical PPE needs should be communicated to the respective local Office of Emergency
Management, with the appropriate information provided at the time of request. Requests MUST
include:
• Type and quantity of PPE by size;
• Point of contact at the requesting facility or system;
• Delivery location;
• Date request is needed to be filled by; AND
• Record of pending orders.
Contingency strategies can help stretch PPE supplies when shortages are anticipated at a facility.
Crisis strategies can be considered during severe PPE shortages and should be used with the
contingency options to help stretch available supplies for the most critical needs. As PPE availability
returns to normal, healthcare facilities should promptly resume standard practices.
Facilities should review the following guidance on Strategies for PPE shortages:
OPWDD guidance issued April 6, 2020, available at
https://opwdd.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2020/04/4.6.2020-opwdd-memo-regarding-covid19-
ppeshortage_0.pdf.
CDC guidance regarding specific strategies for the conservation of facemasks, eye protection,
isolation gowns and N95 respirators is available at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-
ncov/hcp/ppe-strategy/index.html.
Staff are encouraged to download and use the following PPE posters from the CDC:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/communication/factsheets.html#healthcare.
Facilities should also refer to the following documents for more information:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/guidance-prevent-spread.html.

K. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
More information on the NYS Department of Health (DOH) and the Center for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) recommendations can be found at:
• DOH: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home
• CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

CP State President and CEO Susan Constantino and ADAPT Community Network CEO Ed Matthews have received the honor of being recognized as Essential Change Agents by the National Historic Recognition Project: 2000-2020.

The National Historic Recognition Project: 2000-2020 continues the legacy of the 20th Century Historic Recognition Project in recognizing the key people that transformed the field of I/DD within the United States over the past 20 years, contributing to the historical record of the field.  

Recipients of the Essential Change Agents honor are recognized for their significant regional contributions to or impact in the field of I/DD in the U.S. between 2000 and 2020. These individuals were often engaged in service, public policy, and advocacy initiatives that were significant in their region, contributed to the national dialogue, and enhanced the quality of life of people with I/DD.

Constantino is recognized as an Essential Change Agent for her work in shaping service delivery for people with I/DD in New York. She currently serves on numerous governmental task forces, councils, and statewide committees representing the interests of CP of NYS, its affiliates, and the I/DD community.

Matthews is recognized as an Essential Change Agent for his work following the consent decree for the Willowbrook State School securing community homes for residents with very high support needs, and his influential testimony a decade later, when state was sued over its compliance with the decree.

A commemorative booklet, the 2020 National Honors Recognizing Significant Contributions in the Field of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in the U.S. Between 2000 and 2020, was created to celebrate these remarkable individuals in lieu of a celebratory gathering at this time. The commemorative booklet also contains the following essays that highlight key trends in the I/DD field:

• Changing Service, Changing Workforce
• Workforce: Recruiting and Retaining Talent in the Field
• Advocacy in Action: Power in Working Together
• The Importance of Defining Quality of Life Through Personal Outcomes
• The Growth & Evolution of Community System of Supports

CP State is very pleased that the New York State announced on April 14 that they have elected the Choice Model for implementing Electronic Visit Verification (EVV).  This will allow individual providers to choose and select the EVV vendor that best meet their Affiliate/agency’s needs.

From the DOH:

Following a series of engagements with a wide variety of stakeholders and carefully considering input from Medicaid beneficiaries, family caregivers, providers, advocates, partner agencies and Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) solution providers, including information gathered from a Request for Information (RFI), New York has elected to proceed with the Choice Model for implementing EVV.

New York selected the Choice Model for the following reasons: (1) it best ensures that consumers will have EVV options from which to consider when selecting a provider; (2) it gives providers of service the flexibility to select an option that best meets their business needs and the needs of the consumers they serve; and (3) it recognizes that many providers serving New York’s Medicaid consumers have already implemented EVV systems that meet the requirements of the Cures Act, preserving the investment that has already been made, avoiding duplicative costs, and eliminating disruption to consumers and caregivers. New York has notified CMS it has selected the Choice Model – please see letter at https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/redesign/evv/repository/index.htm

Summarized feedback received through the web-based and in-person Listening Sessions was collected in an EVV Stakeholder Convening Report which is available at https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/redesign/evv/repository/docs/2019-stakeholder_conven_rpt.pdf, and a summary of the responses to the RFI conducted in 2019 is posted on the RFI website at https://www.health.ny.gov/funding/rfi/evv/index.htm

To immediately begin to help providers select and implement an EVV solution under the New York State EVV Choice Model, the Department of Health (DOH) has published EVV Program Requirements, including Considerations for Selecting an EVV system in its EVV Resource Library at https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/redesign/evv/repository/index.htm

DOH will also be setting up a Technical Assistance Forum to allow for continued collaboration and communication with EVV stakeholders.  The first session will be held on April 20, 2020.  The schedule for subsequent sessions will be available on the NY Medicaid Electronic Visit Verification Program Event Calendar at https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/redesign/evv/calendar.htm

If you have general EVV inquiries or if you would like to submit written comments, please email EVVHelp@health.ny.gov

Thank you.

The following guidance is issued by the New York State Department of Health on April 10, 2020, and replaces all previously issued guidance regarding hospital visitation:

For patients for whom a support person has been determined to be essential to the care of the patient (medically necessary) including patients with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD), and patients with cognitive impairments including dementia, the Department considers one support person at a time as essential to patient care in the emergency room or during hospitalization. For these hospitalized patients, especially with prolonged hospitalizations, the patient or family/caregiver may designate two support people; but only one support person may be present at a time.

This support person can be the patient’s family, caregiver, or another person they chose. In these settings, the person will be the only support person allowed to be present during the patient’s care. This restriction must be explained to the patient and support person in plain terms, upon arrival or, ideally, prior to arriving at the hospital. Hospital staff should ensure that patients fully understand this restriction, allowing them to decide who they wish to identify as their support person. Individuals age 70 years or older, are not encouraged to be support persons at this time due to increased risk of COVID-19 infection.

Effective immediately, hospitals must suspend all visitation except for patient support persons, or family members and/or legal representatives of patients in imminent end-of-life situations.

 Hospitals are required to permit a patient support person at the patient bedside for:

• Patients in labor and delivery;
• Pediatric patients;
• Patients for whom a support person has been determined to be essential to the care of the patient (medically necessary) including patients with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and patients with cognitive impairments  including dementia.

During this unprecedented time, a support person for the patients described above may  be critical to avoid negative health outcomes unrelated to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Given the risk of COVID-19 in healthcare settings, healthcare providers should thoroughly discuss the potential risks and benefits of a support person’s presence at the bedside with both the patient (if 18 years of age or older) and the support person. For those patients and support persons who through informed decision making determine a support person at the bedside is essential for the patient’s care, hospitals  should develop protocols for ensuring a  support person at bedside minimizes risk of potential COVID-19  transmission,  including  when  the patient is confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19.

Read the details in the official memo.