APD COVID-19 FAQ
Provider Questions and Answers
Visitation
- Are there restrictions on visitors entering facilities?
- Can Waiver Support Coordinators minimize face to face contacts?
- Are family members able to visit their loved one receiving services in a facility setting? What if the family member wants to take their loved one home or for an outing during this public health emergency?
Yes. To protect the health and safety of residents in a long-term care facility, group home setting, or Institutional Care Facility (ICF), visitation in these living settings has been suspended with few exceptions. See Emergency Order DEM 20-006 more information.
Yes. Providers should employ alternative forms of communication such as
telephonic or video conferencing in lieu of in-person visits. Please refer to
the March 13, 2020 waiver support coordinator (WSC) Advisory for more
information: https://apd.myflorida.com/waiver/docs/WSC%20Advisory%202020-009%20COVID-19%20and%20Consumer%20Contact%20Requirements.pdf.
In addition, support plans and waiver eligibility worksheets can be
completed telephonically temporarily. Once the in-person visits are reinstated, WSCs should conduct a visit in recipients’ homes to assess the
safety of the living environment.
Emergency Order DEM 20-006 allows family visits in the facility only in the case of end of life situations. If the family wants to take their family member home or for an outing during this time, they may do so. However, it is strongly discouraged. Prior to being allowed to reenter the group home or ICF, the person must pass the pre-screening questionnaire.
Community Integration
- Can a companion worker take a resident of a group home into the community?
This is strongly discouraged. Prior to being allowed to reenter the group home after a community outing, the resident must pass the pre-screening questionnaire.
Site Visits
- Will APD staff still be conducting monthly monitoring visits in APD licensed foster/group homes?
Yes. The APD monitoring staff will continue to conduct monthly monitoring visits unless otherwise advised.
Flexibility of Waiver Services
- Will APD work with providers on staffing levels required by licensure if they experience a significant shortage in staff due to illness.
- For group/foster home residents under the age of 21 who are out of school, can companion services be provided in the licensed home while out of school?
APD and AHCA are requesting flexibility with federal requirements to address this.
No. At this time companion services can only be authorized for individuals if they are 22 or older.
ADTs
- Will APD require ADTs providing services to more than 10 individuals to close?
- What are ADTs to do if a person gets sick while at the ADT and the group home refuses to pick them up citing no staff to work during ADT hours?
- If ADT programs are closing and the person will be remaining in his/her own home with personal supports, how could additional hours be authorized?
- If ADT programs wish to temporarily close to reduce the potential spread of the virus, are they required to give a 30-day notice?
- Can closed ADT programs be considered as possible quarantine sites for group home residents who become infected with COVID-19?
Not at this time. If ADT providers are required to close, we will allow ADT
services to be provided in other settings.
AHCA will be making advanced Medicaid payments to ADT providers to help
address the financial hardship sustained during this state of emergency.
Please refer to the iBudget Provider Payment Flexibility provider alert
distributed by the Agency dated March 18, 2020 for more information.
Group homes are required to have adequate staffing to meet client needs. Notify the APD Regional Operations Manager immediately for incidents of this nature.
The provider should work with the client’s waiver support coordinator to shift any available unallocated funds to cover the additional hours needed.
No. ADT programs who wish to temporarily close do not need to give a 30-day notice. However, the ADT should work with the individuals’ WSCs so that alternative services can be arranged.
This may be considered as an option should that become necessary.
Financial Hardship
- If facility programs are required to close, providers indicate their business risk insurance will likely not cover the expenses they will incur, such as staff salaries, during the time they cannot bill for services. Are there emergency funds to assist with this loss?
- Can providers bill more frequently than once per month? This would assist with cash flow to handle additional protective and infection control costs and other support services that may be needed.
The State of Florida is exploring potential options for affected businesses. Providers are encouraged to complete the Business Damage Assessment Survey at www.floridajobs.org.
Providers may also want to consider applying for an emergency small business loan authorized by Governor DeSantis. For more information, providers should contact the Florida Small Business Development Center Network at (866)-737-7232 or via email Disaster@FloridaSBDC.org.
In addition, AHCA will be making advanced Medicaid payments to certain
iBudget providers to help address the financial hardship sustained during
this state of emergency. Please refer to the iBudget Provider Payment
Flexibility provider alert distributed by the Agency dated March 18, 2020 for
more information.
Services that can be billed more frequently include quarter hour and daily services. Services must be billed in accordance with the approved service authorization.
Supplies
- When will assistance be available to assist providers in obtaining protective and cleaning supplies considering these items are being rationed and in some cases such as barrier gowns are not available?
The entire country is struggling with an extreme shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks. Please attempt to use your existing supply chain to order any needed masks and other PPE. The County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is a resource to obtain necessary supplies in an emergency. Although counties do not have excess supplies at this time, if you have not submitted a request already, you can submit a request to your County EOC. This will help to inform the statewide prioritization of supplies as they arrive in Florida.
Safety Protocols
- If a client is exposed to or contracts COVID-19 what protocol should the facility take before the person is able to return?
- Should individuals be allowed to continue using the coordinated transportation provider for trips to the Adult Day Training program?
- If a provider staff person provides care to an individual who is under quarantine, can they also render services to others?
- If a client has symptoms of a cold or respiratory infection, i.e., a cough, runny nose, or fever, should they be tested for COVID-19?
- What are the protocols for dealing with a behaviorally complex client who has been exposed to the COVID-19 virus and requires hands on interventions?
- Personal protective equipment (PPE): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/respirator-use-faq.html
- How to protect yourself: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html#protect
- What protocol should a service provider follow when there is concern about entering a client's residence?
- Are providers allowed to continue to render services during this virus outbreak?
Providers should follow the CDC guidelines and protocols published by the Department of Health. They are providing the most up-to date information as the situation evolves.
Yes. Non-emergency transportation providers have been advised to follow safety precautions to reduce the spread of the virus.
Providers should follow the CDC guidelines and protocols published by the Department of Health. They are providing the most up-to date information as the situation evolves.
Providers should follow the CDC guidelines and protocols published by the Department of Health. They are providing the most up-to date information as the situation evolves.
Providers should follow the CDC guidelines and protocols published by the Department of Health. The provider should follow reactive strategies procedures and the client's behavioral treatment plan. Learn more from the CDC:
The service provider should notify the Waiver Support Coordinator with their concerns. If you have clients with fever and respiratory illness, consider rescheduling non-essential appointments. Also, recommend to the client that they contact their doctor. This general approach can help prevent the spread of disease to others.
Yes, it is of utmost importance that recipients continue to receive critical services. Providers should follow self and client screening protocols published by the CDC and DOH prior to entering a client’s home.
Timelines and Deadlines
- Can recertifications for reactive strategies be extended?
- Is APD willing to grant an extension on medication validations?
APD is working on extending recertification of reactive strategies for 60 days.
APD is working on extending recertification of medication re-validations.
Testing
- What is the availability of free testing for provider staff and clients?
- What if I feel like I’ve been exposed but don’t need to see a healthcare provider or get tested?
Medicaid is covering the cost of testing for individuals enrolled in Medicaid. Contact your primary healthcare provider or your County Health Department with questions regarding the availability of test kits for others.
Providers should follow the CDC guidelines and protocols published by the Department of Health. They are providing the most up-to date information as the situation evolves.
