COVID-19 BUSINESS RESOURCE UPDATE

COVID-19

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, our thoughts are with everyone impacted. We know our role as your TPA has never been more important, and we are committed to doing everything we can to ensure that you and your employees receive the support and quality service needed throughout this evolving situation. The priority at Vault Health Workforce Screening remains to protect the safety of our clients and their employees, along with the health and well-being of our team members during this trying and difficult time. We’ve operationalized our business continuity plan to provide rapid response to safeguard our workforce. Our IT department worked swiftly and diligently to set each staff member up with all of the resources and equipment needed to work from home. These actions have allowed us to continue to provide services to our clients safely.

We’ve received many inquiries from our clients regarding regulations and service availability, we address some of these concerns below. We will continue to keep you updated as this situation evolves.

BACKGROUND SCREENING SERVICES

Vault Health Workforce Screening is closely monitoring any potential closures of Government agencies, courts, schools, and various business that would affect the delivery of our Background Screening Services. We continually update our clients within our Background screening portal of any closures or court delays. At this time, you should expect delays with regards to previous employer verifications and education verifications, as well as some limited court delays.

LABORATORY & CLINIC/COLLECTION SITES

Vault Health Workforce Screening’s operations team remains in contact with our lab partners and can report that all are running at normal operational levels. Our team is also monitoring the operations of our clinic and collection site partners and are keeping our provider network up to date as we receive potential service interruption notifications. During this emergency, we recommend that clients, their employees/applicants, and program participants contact the sites directly to make an appointment and to confirm hours of operations. Should you require additional support, you can always call us during regular business hours, and we can assist you.

Clinics and collection sites have initiated rigorous safety procedures to protect their employees and others, and they are diligently following all best practices set by the CDC. Our clinic networks are working closely with local health officials and monitoring CDC, WHO, OSHA, and other organizations to remain abreast of current guidelines.

Vault Health Workforce Screening has prepared the following information to keep you up to date on procedures and processes.

Cleaning and Disinfecting

Sites have implemented strict cleaning regimens that include frequent disinfection of door handles and other hard surfaces to help reduce and mitigate possible contamination. Hand sanitizer is available, and frequent hand washing is encouraged.

Screening for Active Symptoms

Many sites are screening donors for any active symptoms before entry – Quest, for example, is taking temperature checks at many of their locations.

New – Face Coverings and Masks

Sites are now requiring patients to wear a face-covering or mask (cloth is fine, but a T-shirt pulled up is not) when visiting their sites to help protect other patients and staff from exposure to COVID-19. Patients who refuse to wear a face-covering or mask without presenting a valid reason may be asked to leave the clinic.

Special Hours/Services for at-risk Clients

If you are 60 years of age, pregnant, or have a medical condition that puts you at higher risk for COVID-19, some sites are offering the first hour of every day for VIP care. It is also recommended that you contact the sites directly to make an appointment and follow all social distancing guidelines.

ACOEM Advises Suspension of Routine Occupational Spirometry Testing During COVID-19 Pandemic

REGULATED SERVICES THAT FALL UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

The Department of Transportation and its sub-agencies have not waived any drug and alcohol testing or background screening requirements at this time. Therefore, we recommend that you continue with those programs as required by regulation for all testing reasons. Please note that Emergency Declaration No 2020-002 does not exempt any driver or employer from the controlled substance and alcohol use testing requirements of 49CFR Part 382

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/emergency/emergency-declaration-under-49-cfr-ss-39023-no-2020-002

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES AT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

The Department of Transportation plays an active part in the United States Government’s response to the coronavirus (COVID-19). As a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, DOT helps support the Administration’s efforts to contain and mitigate the spread of the virus, and ensure the continuation of critical infrastructure support and relief for the American people.

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

Travel restrictions developed through whole-of-government coordination have been a remarkably effective ‘first layer’ of health screening of overseas travelers before they return home. These travel requirements delayed the arrival of the virus to the United States, giving the nation precious time to prepare further measures, and plan for mitigation. Read more about the travel precautions upon arrival to the United States on the CDC website.
DOT’s Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance (ODAPC) provided clarity to DOT-regulated employers, employees, and service agents on conducting DOT drug-and-alcohol testing given concerns about the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA)

FAA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) jointly issued COVID-19: Interim Health Guidance for Air Carriers and Crews for air carriers and crews to protect crewmembers from exposure and reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission onboard aircraft or through air travel.
Provided guidance to keep the traveling public informed of the continued risk of international travel.
FAA has and will continue to coordinate daily with aviation stakeholders, foreign counterparts and other federal agencies to manage the risk from overseas travelers to the United States.

FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (FMCSA)

Issued an expanded national emergency declaration to provide hours-of-service regulatory relief to commercial vehicle drivers transporting emergency relief in response to the nationwide COVID-19 outbreak. Read the Expanded Emergency Declaration Under 49 CFR § 390.23 No. 2020-002.
- FMCSA issued a waiver from certain regulations pertaining to commercial driver’s license and commercial learner’s permit holders. This waiver addresses some of the challenges the industry is experiencing during the national emergency we are facing. The waiver can be found here: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/emergency/fmcsa-cdl-waiver-32420.
Provided FAQs for the trucking community regarding emergency declaration
Acting Administrator Jim Mullen conducted outreach to the commercial motor vehicle industry, including: the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance and American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators regarding hours-of-service relief; the National Association of Truck Stop Operators regarding operational issues and relief; the National Governors Association concerning Commercial Drivers License licensing challenges.

FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION (FTA)

FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION (FRA)

Determined that the imminent threat and exposure to COVID-19 poses a risk of serious illness that constitutes an “emergency situation” as related to railroad operations, allowing railroads to submit emergency petition waivers of specific regulations during an emergency situation or event.

MARITIME ADMINISTRATION (MARAD)

Administrator Mark H. Buzby held a teleconference with over 150 maritime industry and government agency representatives focused on the continued readiness and resilience of the U.S. maritime critical infrastructure to meet the Nation’s sealift missions for economic and national security throughout the COVID-19 outbreak.
Provided guidance: Maritime Security Communications with Industry (MSCI) 2020-006-Global-Novel Coronavirus Outbreak

NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA)

NHTSA’s Office of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) has established weekly conference calls for nationwide EMS stakeholder organizations to provide informational updates and identify issues from the EMS community.
Provided guidance: EMS COVID-19 Resources

PIPELINES AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (PHMSA)

Provided guidance to state pipeline safety partners on ways to continue to effectively execute shared pipeline safety mission. The guidance also explains actions PHMSA will take in its efforts to continue to support the activities of state pipeline safety programs during this time.
PHMSA’s Office of Pipeline Safety continues to hold stakeholder outreach calls with the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, the National Association of Regulatory Commission, the American Petroleum Institute, the Association of Oil Pipelines, and the American Public Gas Association.
Provided Guidance: Stay of Enforcement or Pipeline Operators Due to COVID-19 Outbreak