COVID-19 Information for Nursing Homes

Skilled nursing facilities are licensed by the PA Department of Health, and are often referred to as nursing homes. There are other types of long-term care facilities licensed by the PA Department of Human Services, such as personal care homes and assisted living facilities.

Vaccine Data and Strategy

• COVID-19 Vaccine Data and Strategy for Long-Term Care Facilities

PA HAN

• Health Alerts, Advisories and Updates
  

Staffing, Testing, PPE and Other Support for Facilities 

• PPE: For PPE requests, complete this online form: Healthcare Facility / Agency PPE Critical Needs Assessment Form.
• Staffing: For short-term crisis staffing support due to a COVID-19 outbreak, complete this online form to request staffing for a 3-5 day period: Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Task Force Staffing Support Request. If your facility is working with Penn State or UPenn RCAT, you must work directly with their RCAT for staffing support and NOT utilize this form.
• Testing: To request assistance with COVID-19 outbreak testing, complete this online form: Universal Testing Needs Assessment Form. Your request will be considered, and someone from the Long-Term Care Task Force will be in touch with you. For questions about testing, email ra-dhCOVIDtesting@pa.gov.
• Regional Congregate Care Assistance Teams (RCAT): With the ending of the Regional Response Health Collaborative (RRHC) on December 30, 2020, RCAT will provide COVID-19 outbreak support to facilities. Learn more about RCAT.
• Vaccines: Facilities that are in need of assistance with vaccine access, please fill out this survey.  Upon receipt, DOH will work to identify a local pharmacy partner and contact you via email. For questions about vaccines, email ra-dhCOVIDvax@pa.gov.
• For general nursing home questions about COVID-19, email ra-dhSNFquestion@pa.gov.

Additional Testing Information

• To request assistance with outbreak testing, complete this online form: Universal Testing Needs Assessment Form. Your request will be considered, and someone from the Long-Term Care Task Force will be in touch with you.
• If your facility has a CLIA waiver and a Pennsylvania lab permit and is in need of Abbott BinaxNOW cards, please send an email to ra-dhBinaxNOWtests@pa.gov. Include your facility point of contact’s name and email address along with the facility name and address. Please see the COVID-19 Laboratory Testing Frequently Asked Questions for more information about the requirements for performing testing at your facility.

If your facility does not have a laboratory engaged for COVID-19 testing, view a list of laboratories that conduct COVID-19 testing. This list is provided for informational purposes only, and the facility would be responsible for any cost.

PA DOH Guidance and Resources

• COVID-19 Cases Associated with LTCFs or Personal Care Homes
• Regional Congregate Care Assistance Teams (RCAT)
• Nursing Home Visitation - COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (12/7/2021)
  
• COVID PA-NEDSS Reporting (PDF) (9/18/2020)
• NEDSS Data Entry FAQ(PDF) (9/18/2020)
• Interim Guidance for Skilled Nursing Facilities During COVID-19 (3/29/2021)
• Interim Guidance for Skilled Nursing Facilities During COVID-19 FAQ (9/29/2020)
  
• Point of Care Testing (7/30/2020)
  
• State and CMS Survey Guidance for Skilled Nursing Facilities during the COVID-19 Pandemic (7/16/2020)
• Temporary Suspension of Requirements of the Clinical Laboratory Act to Allow Personnel to Collect and Test Specimens in Skilled Nursing Facilities (6/1/2020)
• COVID-19 LTC Staffing Resources (4/19/2020)
  
• Labs approved to process COVID-19 samples (PDF)
  
• PPE and Supplies Inventory Collection Tool(4/13/2020)
  

Orders of the Secretary of Health (and related FAQs)

• Termination of the Order of the Acting Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health Further Amending the Amended Order Requiring Skilled Nursing Care Facilities to Make Weekly Reports of Specified Data Regarding Supplies and Equipment (10/29/2021)
• Order Rescinding Vaccine Reporting Order (6/23/2021)
• Order of the Acting Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health Further Amending the Amended Order Requiring Skilled Nursing Care Facilities to Make Weekly Reports of Specified Data Regarding Supplies and Equipment (5/26/2021)
  
• Order of the Acting Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health Requiring Skilled Nursing Care Facilities to Complete the COVID-19 Vaccine Needs Assessment Survey (3/16/2021)
  
• Amended Order of the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health Requiring Skilled Nursing Care Facilities to Make Daily Reports of Specified Data Regarding Supplies and Equipment (PDF) (12/24/2020)
• COVID-19 Skilled Nursing Facilities Data Reporting Requirements FAQ (6/2/2020)
• Order of the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health Directing Long-Term Care Facilities to Implement Measures for Use and Distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (8/17/2020)
• LTCF PPE Order FAQ (11/16/2020)
• Order of SOH Universal Testing in SNF (PDF) (6/8/2020)
  
• SNF Testing Requirements (6/8/2020)
  
• SOH Order SNF Testing FAQs (7/7/2020)
• Order of the Secretary on PPE Distribution in LTCFs (PDF) (4/13/2020)
• FAQ - Executive Order for Targeted Distribution of COVID-19 PPE and Supplies (PDF) (4/13/2020)

State Registrar Notices

• 2020-13, Additional Guidance for Medical Professionals - Reporting of Deaths Attributed to COVID-19 (PDF)
• 2020-10, Medical Certification of a Report of Death (PDF)
• 2020-05, Establishing an EDRS Account - Medical Professionals (PDF)
• 2020-01, COVID-19 for Medical Professionals (PDF)

Federal Guidance and Resources

• Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of COVID-19 in Nursing Homes
• Mom’s Vaccinated: When Can I Visit Her Nursing Home?