NEW PROGRAM CLOSURE GUIDANCE: Last evening, OPWDD issued guidance regarding the suspension and reduction of services in red and orange cluster zones, which are designated as COVID hot spots by the State of New York. OPWDD will be notifying affected providers who will in turn be responsible for notifying affected individuals, families, and Care Managers/CCOs. These mandated suspensions and reductions are effective as of Sunday afternoon, October 25th. It should be expected that these closures and suspensions may shift frequently as the data drives adding or removing the cluster zone designation.
NEW VISITATION GUIDANCE: Similarly, the NYS Department of Health has issued new guidance regarding visitation to congregate care settings located in cluster zones, including those settings run, licensed or regulated by OPWDD. In an IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION, we have been advised that the exceptions listed in this guidance document apply ONLY to Department of Health licensed facilities, for example hospitals. This is consistent with the visitation guidance that was previously in effect during the height of the coronovirus outbreak. We have encouraged OPWDD to seek written clarification of this from the NYS Department of Health. Again, where these visitation restrictions are required, they will go into effect tomorrow, Sunday, October 25th at 3 pm.
See letter from Executive Director and full guidance documents at the link.