Federal Guidance on COVID-19

Below you will find relevant federal guidance and guidance from our national partners. Click the name in the list below to jump directly to that resource section. Please note that as of March 23, all new additions are marked with the date they were posted. This date is highlighted in yellow for recent additions.

Federal Information and Guidance: 

• Administration for Community Living
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
• Congress
• Department of Health and Human Services
• Department of Labor
• Department of Veterans Affairs
• Environmental Protection Agency
• FEMA
• Federal Trade Commission
• IRS
• Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response
• Office of Civil Rights at HHS
• Office of Management and Budget
• Senate Aging Committee
• Social Security
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
• USDA
• White House Task Force

Information and Guidance from Other National Resources:

• Eldercare Locator
• Meals on Wheels America
• Mental Health America
• National Academy of State Health Policy
• National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals
• National Center on Elder Abuse
• National Council on Aging
• National Governors Association 
• National Guardianship Association
• NORC
• National Resource Center on Nutrition & Aging
• Self Advocacy Resource Technical Assistance Center
• Senior Medicare Patrol

 

Federal Information and Guidance: 

 

Administration for Community Living

• Resources for Senior Nutrition Programs (added 5.6.21)
  • ​Reopening Considerations
  • Safety Sinage and Communication
  • Resources List for Senior Nutrition Programs
• Expanding Access to COVID-19 Vaccines via the Aging Network Grant FAQ (added 4.9.21)
• COVID Vaccination FAQs for the Aging Network (added 2.12.21)
• Updated Title III State Program Report: COVID-19 Response Reporting Guidance (added 2.17.21)
• FAQ: Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs (added 2.17.21)
• Budget tables: Older Americans Act State, Territory, and Tribal nutrition allocation (added 2.17.21)
• Free Face Coverings for Community-based Organizations Providing Direct Services to Older Adults and People with Disabilities (added 10.30.20)
• What do Older Adults and People with Disabilities Need to Know about Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)?
• Emergency Preparedness Resources
• Guidance for State Long-Term Care Ombudsmen
• Legal Assistance for Older Americans & COVID-19
• Information for Adult Protective Services
• Expediting Expenditures at the state level (added 4.8.20)
• Letter to SUA Directors regarding state plan extension (added 4.10.20)
• Webinar Materials: ACL/CMS Promising Practices Training: Ensuring Continuity of HCBS During the COVID-19 Pandemic (added 5.20.20)
• Scam tip: ACL has become aware of a scam, via text messages, that purport to offer funds related to an Aging Empowerment Program. The scam may offer $150,000. These text messages are scams and the sender is trying to get your personal information. Do not respond to these scams no matter whose name is attached to the text. (added 4.14.20)
• Virtual Engagement Tips (added 5.27.20)
• CIL CARES Act Performance Report (added 6.15.20)
  • See acl.gov/covid-19 for instrument
• Older Americans Act COVID-19 Comprehensive Guidance (updated version added 7.17.20)
• COVID-19/Emergency Preparedness Resource Guide for Kinship Families and Grandfamilies (added 9.4.20)

ADRC/No Wrong Door Funding Opportunity:

• ADRC Grant Funding Announcement- now closed (added 4.8.20)
• Updated FAQ on ADRC/No Wrong Door System Funding Opportunities (updated version added 4.8.20)
• Informational webinar materials (held April 9th, 2020)
  • Slides (added 4.13.20)
  • Transcript (added 4.13.20)
  • FAQs from the webinar (added 4.13.20)

Guidance on Reporting Requirements:

• Memo from Deputy Administrator for Management and Budget (added 5.5.20)
• Title VI Reporting Guidance (added 5.5.20)
• Long-term Care Ombudsman Programs (added 5.5.20)
• Title III- State Program Report (added 5.5.20)
• Centers for Independent Living (added 5.5.20)

FAQs:

• From Calls:
  • Call with SUA Directors Hosted by ADvancing States (added 3.31.20)
  • Call with ACL and SUA Directors held April 1 (added 4.8.20)
  • Call with ACL and SUA Directors held April 8 (added 4.16.20)
  • Call wiith ACL and SUA Directors held April 15 (added 4.22.20)
  • Call with ACL and SUA Directors held April 22 (added 4.30.20)
• Fiscal/Funding related:
  • Older Americans Act Transfers (please email info@advancingstates.org to request spreadsheet attachments)
  • Older Americans Act Disaster Assistance (updated 3/16/20)
  • Fiscal FAQs- Family First Coronavirus Response Act/Supplemental #2 Funding for Nutrition Services (added 3.24.20)
  • Major Disaster Declarations and OAA funds (added 4.8.20)
  • OAA funding, FFCRA, CARES Act, and OAA Reauthorization updates (added 4.8.20)
• ​Other:
  • State Assistive Technology Act Program 
  • LTC Ombudsman Program (updated 3/16/20)
  • ACL Grant Recipients (added 3.31.20)
  • Updated Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (updated version added 3.31.20)
  • HCBS Supportive Services and Elder Rights
  • Centers for Independent Living and CARES Act Funding (updated version added 4.28.20)
  • Title VI Grantees: Information for American Indian, Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian Programs (added 4.20.20)
  • LTC Ombudsman Program Fiscal and Programmatic FAQs Related to the CARES Act (added 4.20.20)
  • Title III-B and Title III-E FAQs (added 4.28.20)
  • Program Reporting Guidance (added 6.9.20)

Nutrition information:

• Q&A from Meals on Wheels America Town Hall (added 4.2.20)
• Letter to SUA Directors regarding presumptive waiver approval of additional 10% transfer 
• HHS Announces Grant Funding for OAA Nutrition Programs (added 3.24.20)
• Senior Nutrition Programs FAQ
• Nutrition Services Incentive Program of the OAA FAQ (added 4.1.20)
• Additional FAQ about OAA Nutrition Program Implementation (added 4.20.20)
• Providing Groceries through OAA Programs (added 5.12.20)
• Survival Guide: Navigating COVID-19 Guidance for Those Administering Title IIIC Programs (updated version posted on 7.31.20)

​Resources for Reopening

• Reopening Guidelines for Senior Nutrition Programs (added 5.6.20)​

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Background Information

• Live Informational Microsite
• General information
• FAQs
• Share facts not fear
• One-page fact sheet- what you need to know
• Preventing COVID-19 Spread in Communities
• Resources for State, Local, Territorial and Tribal Health Departments
• Guidance for older adults
• What older adults need to know (video)

Resources Related to Individuals with Disabilities

• What Direct Service Providers for people with disabilities need to know about COVID-19 (added 5.29.20)
• What Group Home Administrators and staff need to know about COVID-19 (added 5.29.20)
• Guidance for Direct Service Providers, Caregivers, Parents, and People with Developmental and Behavioral Disorders (added 5.29.20)
• Information for People with Developmental and Behavioral Disorders (added 5.29.20)
• COVID-19 Vaccine Considerations for People with Disabilites  (added 2.10.21)

Guidance

• Strategies to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 in Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCF)
• Interim Guidance for Implementing Home Care of People Not Requiring Hospitalization for 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)
• Guidance for People at Risk for Serious Illness from COVID-19
• Interim Guidance for Homeless Shelters
• Mitigation Strategies for Communities with Local COVID-19 Transmission
• Recommendations for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Healthcare Settings
• Guidance for Caregivers of People Living with Dementia in Community Settings (added 6.16.20)

Funding

• CDC to Award Over $560 Million to State & Local Jurisdictions in Support of COVID-19 Response
• List of funding actions to local jurisdictions 
• 2019 CDC PHEP Grants

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Background Information

• Current Emergencies Website
• Recordings and transcripts from stakeholder calls
• Temporary regulatory waivers and new rules (added 3.31.20)
  • ​Additional background information (added 3.31.20)
• Coronavirus Commission on Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes: Final Report (added 9.18.20)
• Fact Sheets:
  • Medicare Coverage and Payment Related to COVID-19
  • Medicaid and CHIP Coverage and Payment Related to COVID-19 
  • Health Care Providers
  • CMS Programs & Payment for Care in Hospital Alternate Care Sites (added 5.28.20)
• FAQs
  • State Medicaid and CHIP Agencies (updated 4.2.20)
  • Essential Health Benefit Coverage and the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
  • Catastrophic Plan Coverage and the Coronavirus Disease 2019
  • Families First Coronavirus Response Act – Increased FMAP FAQs (added 3.25.20)
  • Provider Burden Relief (added 3.31.20)
  • Implementation of the FFCRA, the CARES Act, and other health coverage issues (added 4.13.20)
  • Medicaid FAQs on the FFRCA and CARES Act (added 4.14.20)
  • Updated State Medicaid and Chip Agency FAQs (added 5.5.20)
  • Nursing Home Reopening FAQs (added 5.19.20)
  • Updated FAQs for State Medicaid and CHIP Agencies (added 7.2.20)
• Telehealth
  • General Medicaid Telehealth Guidance
  • News release on Expanded Telehealth Benefits for Medicare Beneficiaries
  • Medicare Telehealth Fact Sheet
  • Medicare Telehealth FAQs
  • Medicaid State Plan Fee-for-Service Payments for Services Delivered Via Telehealth 
  • Long-Term Care Nursing Homes Telehealth and Telemedicine Tool Kit (added 3.28.20)
  • Rural Health Care & Medicaid Substance Use Disorder Treatment via Telehealth (added 4.2.20)

Guidance

• Revised Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Nursing Homes- Updated 3.13.20
  • Press release announcing the revised guidance for nursing homes
• Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention Concerning Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): FAQs and Considerations for Patient Triage, Placement and Hospital Discharge
• Bulletin on Suspension of Survey Activities
• Guidance to Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) Organizations
• Adult Elective Surgery and Procedures Recommendations
• Long-Term Care Facility Guidance (added 4.3.20)
• Long-Term Care Facility Transfer Scenarios (added 4.15.20)
• Upcoming Requirements for Nursing Homes Re: Notification of COVID Cases (added 4.20.20)
• Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention in Home Health Agencies and Religious Nonmedical Healthcare Institutions (added 4.28.20)
• Informational Bulletin on Medicaid Managed Care Options (added 5.15.20)
  • Sample prepint - general example (added 5.15.20)
  • Sample  preprint- appendix k example (added 5.15.20)
• Nursing Home Reccomendations for Reopening (added 5.19.20)
• Nurisng Home Visitation Guidance -Updated (added 3.11.21)
• COVID-19 Survey Activities, CARES Act Funding, Enhanced Enforcement for Infection Control deficiencies, and Quality Improvement Activities in Nursing Homes (added 6.2.20)

Waiver Materials

• Section 1135 approval letters
  • Checklist for 1135 Waiver Applications (added 3.23.20)
• Appendix K approval letters (added 3.24.20)
  • Appendix K preprint for 1915(c) Waiver Emergency Preparedness and Response
  • COVID-specific template for 1915(c) Appendix K [disaster relief] applications (added 3.23.20)
• Checklist for 1115 Waiver Submissions (added 3.23.20)
• Blanket Waivers for Health Care Providers (added 4.23.20)

​Other Tools

• Vaccine Resources for Vulnerable Populations (added 3.11.21)
• Coronavirus Partner Resources (added 3.10.21)
• CDC’s COVID-19 Vaccination Communication Toolkit For Medical Centers, Pharmacies, and Clinicians (added 3.10.21)
• Disaster Response Toolkit
  • Emergency Preparedness Strategies
• Partner toolkit with materials and resources
• Template for State Plan Amendment submissions (added 3.23.20)
• Toolkit on State Actions to Mitigate COVID-19 Prevalence in Nursing Homes (added 5.14.21)
• Blog post from Administrator Verma on CMS Payment Model Flexibilities for COVID-19 (added 6.4.21)
• Preliminary Medicare COVID-19 Data Snapshot (added 6.23.21)
• Targeted COVID-19 Training for Frontline Nursing Home Staff (added 8.27.21)

 

Congress

• Legislation
  • Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act
  • H.R.6201 - Families First Coronavirus Response Act
• Letters
  • Senate Letter to the Vice President on Disabilities
  • Senate Letter to the Vice President on HCBS

 

Department of Health and Human Services

• HHS Announces Nearly $4.9 Billion Distribution to Nursing Facilities Impacted by COVID-19 (added 5.26.21)
• HHS Provides Additional Information About Provider Relief Funds and HCBS Services (added 6.9.21)
• Fact Sheet: Provider Relief Fund: Medicaid and CHIP Provider Distribution (added 7.9.21)

 

Department of Labor

• COVID-19 Information for workers and employers
• Specified guidance for healthcare workers and employers
• Guidance on preparing workplaces for COVID-19

 

Department of Veterans Affairs

• Safeguards to protect nursing home and spinal cord injury patients

 

Environmental Protection Agency

• List of registered disinfectants for use against COVID-19

 

Federal Emergency Management Agency

• Ways to safely help (added 4.12.20)
• Guidance: Purchase and Distribution of Food Eligible for Public Assistance (added 4.16.20)
• Approved Major Disaster Declarations
  • Alabama (added 3.30.20)
  • Alaska (added 4.10.20)
  • Arkansas (added 4.4.20)
  • Arizona (added 4.6.20)
  • California (added 3.23.20)
  • Colorado (added 3.30.20)
  • Connecticut (added 3.30.20)
  • Delaware (added 4.6.20)
  • District of Columbia (added 3.30.20)
  • Florida (added 3.25.20)
  • Georgia (added 3.30.20)
  • Guam (added 3.28.20)
  • Hawaii (added 4.1.20)
  • Idaho (added 4.10.20)
  • Illinois (added 3.27.20)
  • Indiana (added 4.4.20)
  • Iowa (added 3.25.20)
  • Kansas (added 3.30.20)
  • Kentucky (added 3.28.20)
  • Louisiana (added 3.25.20)
  • Maine (added 4.6.20)
  • Mariana Islands (added 4.2.20)
  • Maryland (added 3.27.20)
  • Massachusetts (added 3.28.20)
  • Michigan (added 3.28.20)
  • Minnesota (added 4.8.20)
  • Mississippi (added 4.6.20)
  • Missouri (added 3.27.20)
  • Montana (added 4.1.20)
  • Nebraska (added 4.4.20)
  • Nevada (added 4.6.20)
  • New Hampshire (added 4.4.20)
  • New Jersey (added 3.26.20)
  • New Mexico (added 4.6.20)
  • New York (added 3.23.20)
  • North Carolina (added 3.26.20)
  • North Dakota (added 4.1.20)
  • Ohio (added 4.1.20)
  • Oklahoma (added 4.6.20)
  • Oregon (added 3.30.20)
  • Pennsylvania (added 3.31.20)
  • Puerto Rico (added 3.28.20)
  • Rhode Island (added 3.31.20)
  • (American) Samoa (added 4.20.20)
  • South Carolina (added 3.28.20)
  • South Dakota (added 4.6.20)
  • Tennessee (added 4.2.20)
  • Texas (added 3.25.20)
  • U.S. Virgin Islands (added 4.2.20)
  • Utah (added 4.6.20)
  • Vermont (added 4.9.20)
  • Virginia (added 4.2.20)
  • Washington (added 3.23.20)
  • West Virginia (added 4.4.20)
  • Wisconsin (added 4.4.20)
  • Wyoming (added 4.13.20)

 

Federal Trade Commission

• Coronavirus Scams: What the FTC is Doing
• Warning letters to companies selling fraudulent products

 

IRS

• Warning about Coronavirus-related scams (added 4.14.20)
• Coronavirus Tax Relief and Economic Impact Payments (added 4.14.20)

 

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response

• Capacity Building Toolkit for Including Aging and Disability Networks in Emergency Planning
• Toolkit to Help States Navigate COVID-19 Health Workforce Challenges (added 4.22.20)
• Managing the Effects of Social Distancing in Older Adults During COVID-19 (added 5.29.20)
• Resource page for community-based organizations (added 7.17.20)
• Discharge Planning and Care Coordination during the COVID-19 Pandemic (added 9.4.20)

 

Office of Civil Rights at Department of Health and Human Services

• Notification of Enforcement Discretion for telehealth services during the COVID-19 national emergency
• Bulletin: Civil Rights, HIPAA, and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (added 3.28.20)

 

Office of Management and Budget

• Administrative flexibilities for recipients and applicants of Federal financial assistance who are directly impacted by COVID-19

 

Social Security Administration

• Social Security and Coronavirus Disease (added 5.14.20)

 

U.S. Department of Agriculture

• Food and Nutrition Service Response (added 4.1.20)

 

U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging

• Letter to Secretary Azar highlighting the unique health needs of older adults

 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

• Tips For Social Distancing, Quarantine, And Isolation During An Infectious Disease Outbreak 

 

White House Coronavirus Task Force

• The President's Coronavirus Guidelines for America
• Practical guidance for workplaces, schools, and homes
• General resources

 

Information and Guidance from Other National Resources:

 

Eldercare Locator

• Ways Older Adults Can Stay Connected During COVID-19 (added 5.14.20)

 

Meals on Wheels America

• COVID-19 Response (added 3.24.20)

 

Mental Health America

• Mental health resources and information for COVID-19
• Care for Your Coronavirus Anxiety

 

National Academy for State Health Policy

• Interactive map tracking state use of Appendix K Waivers to support HCBS during COVID-19 (added 5.12.20)

 

National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals

• The Role of the DSP and the Coronavirus (webinar recording)

 

National Center on Elder Abuse

• Keeping Family Together During COVID-19: A Checklist (added 6.30.20)
• Should I Take My Loved One Home During the COVID-19 Crisis? (added 7.2.20)

 

National Council on Aging

• Resources for Senior Centers

  • Senior Centers Connect: How to Provide Services During COVID-19 (added 5.21.20)

• Where Older Adults Can Get Food Help (added 3.27.20)

• Resources for health promotion programs during Covid-19 (added 3.31.20)

• Tools for reaching a remote audience (added 4.10.20)

 

National Governors Association

• State actions (added 3.24.20)
  • ​Includes data on emergency and disaster declarations, National Guard activations, and closures/restrictions
  • New information has been added about state reopening plans and task forces (added 4.27.20)

 

National Guardianship Association

• Resources for Guardians (added 4.24.20)
• FAQs by Guardians about the COVID-19 Pandemic (added 4.24.20, updated 5.6.20)

 

 

National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center

• Information for Ombudsmen

 

National Resource Center on Nutrition & Aging

• Frequently Asked Emergency Management Questions For Aging Services Professionals at the State and Local Levels
• Resources for Aging Professionals

 

Self Advocacy Resource Technical Assistance Center

• Easy to Read Booklet about Coronavirus for Self-Advocates and Families
  • Spanish Version
• Tips for Working with Support Staff During COVID-19 (added 4.13.20)

 

Senior Medicare Patrol

• COVID-19 Medicare Coverage Questions & Answers (added 5.12.20)