Updates Applicable to all Texas Long-Term Care Providers
Testing and Vaccine Resources
Texas Visitation Rules
The Texas visitation rules went into effect Thursday, September 24, 2020. Below is a brief summary of the highlights, requirements, and issues providers should consider:
Visitation Resources
For essential caregiver visits, the facility MUST:
All facilities will be permitted to allow salon visitations. The facility’s obligations with regard to the salon services visitor are similar to those related to the essential caregiver with regard to: policies, agreement, training, PPE, badges, attestation, etc. This visits are only permitted for COVID-negative patients.
Expanded Visits
To qualify for expanded visitations, which includes indoor visits, the new rules mirror HHSC’s initial visitation qualification requirements (separate areas for each cohort, separate staff for each cohort, submission of Form 2194, etc.). Additionally, each facility that wants to participate in expanded visits will need to submit a facility map demonstrating the location of each cohort. If a facility is located in a county where the positivity rate is greater than 10%, it will not qualify for expanded visits, but must still provide closed window visits, end-of-life visits, and essential caregiver visits. Before facilities implement the use of plexiglass, they must receive approval by the facility’s life safety code program manager. All plexiglass visits must be supervised by facility staff.
This information does not constitute legal advice. This is just a brief overview of the recent requirements. The rules go in depth regarding each party’s obligation with regard to the various visitation options. I recommend consulting your legal counsel with the specific questions that concern your facility. We are always available to answer your questions.
- Texas Required Antigen Test Reporting
- Federal Antigen Test Reporting
- Assistance with Entering data into the NHSN system
- Omnicare POC Testing
- COVID-19 Vaccination-Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program
- NHSN Reporting Replaces DSHS Reporting
- Get Your Free Tests!
- Flu Vaccine Guidance
- Additional Reporting Requirements for Providers
- DSHS Reporting No Longer Required for Some Providers
Texas Visitation Rules
The Texas visitation rules went into effect Thursday, September 24, 2020. Below is a brief summary of the highlights, requirements, and issues providers should consider:
- All facilities, regardless of whether they received Phase I visitation approval must permit closed window visits, end-of-life visits, and essential caregiver visits
- All facilities must submit Form 2194 regardless of whether they meet the criteria for expanded visitations
- Only facilities with a visitation designation will be permitted to provide indoor visits (other than those permitted for end-of-life and for essential caregivers)
Visitation Resources
- HHSC Visitation Guide
- HHSC FAQs (Visitation)
- Free COVID tests for Essential Caregivers
- Holiday Guidance
- Guidance for Activities, Dining, and Volunteers
For essential caregiver visits, the facility MUST:
- Develop visitation policies and procedures, including a testing strategy
- Enter into a written agreement with the essential caregiver that specifies, among other things, that the essential caregiver will leave at the designated time
- Train each essential caregiver on use of PPE and approve PPE upon entry to the facility
- Escort the essential caregiver to and from visitation
- Update the resident’s record with the designated essential caregiver information
- Maintain a record of each visit
- Create a badge for each essential caregiver
- Attest that the identity of the caregiver was confirmed by the facility
- Essential Caregiver Training
All facilities will be permitted to allow salon visitations. The facility’s obligations with regard to the salon services visitor are similar to those related to the essential caregiver with regard to: policies, agreement, training, PPE, badges, attestation, etc. This visits are only permitted for COVID-negative patients.
Expanded Visits
To qualify for expanded visitations, which includes indoor visits, the new rules mirror HHSC’s initial visitation qualification requirements (separate areas for each cohort, separate staff for each cohort, submission of Form 2194, etc.). Additionally, each facility that wants to participate in expanded visits will need to submit a facility map demonstrating the location of each cohort. If a facility is located in a county where the positivity rate is greater than 10%, it will not qualify for expanded visits, but must still provide closed window visits, end-of-life visits, and essential caregiver visits. Before facilities implement the use of plexiglass, they must receive approval by the facility’s life safety code program manager. All plexiglass visits must be supervised by facility staff.
This information does not constitute legal advice. This is just a brief overview of the recent requirements. The rules go in depth regarding each party’s obligation with regard to the various visitation options. I recommend consulting your legal counsel with the specific questions that concern your facility. We are always available to answer your questions.
