Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Memos

Posted on Jul 30, 2020 in Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services memos to states

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Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) TRACIE COVID-19 Resources

Memo no. Description Posting Date
QSO-20-38-NH CMS is committed to taking critical steps to ensure America’s healthcare facilities continue to respond effectively to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency (PHE).   On August 25, 2020, CMS published an interim final rule with comment period (IFC).  This rule establishes Long-Term Care (LTC) Facility Testing Requirements for Staff and Residents.  Specifically, facilities are required to test residents and staff, including individuals providing services under arrangement and volunteers, for COVID-19 based on parameters set forth by the HHS Secretary.  This memorandum provides guidance for facilities to meet the new requirements.  Revised COVID-19 Focused Survey Tool -To assess compliance with the new testing requirements, CMS has revised the survey tool for surveyors.  We are also adding to the survey process the assessment of compliance with the requirements for facilities to designate one or more individual(s) as the infection preventionist(s) (IPs) who are responsible for the facility’s infection prevention and control program (IPCP) at 42 CFR § 483.80(b).  In addition, we are making a number of revisions to the survey tool to reflect other COVID-19 guidance updates. 2020-08-26
QSO-20-37-CLIA, NH CMS is committed to taking critical steps to ensure America’s healthcare facilities are prepared to respond to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency (PHE).  On August 25, 2020, an interim final rule with comment period (IFC) went on display at the Federal Register.  CLIA regulations have been updated to require all laboratories to report SARS-CoV-2 test results in a standardized format and at a frequency specified by the Secretary.   Failure to report SARS-CoV-2 test results will result in a condition level violation of the CLIA regulation and may result the imposition of a Civil Money Penalty (CMP) as required under §§ 493.1804 and 493.1834.  Long-Term Care (LTC) Enforcement requirements at 42 CFR part 488 have been revised to include requirements specific to the imposition of a CMP for nursing homes that fail to report requisite COVID-19 related data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) per §483.80(g)(1) and (2).   LTC Facility Testing Requirements for Staff and Residents- Facilities are required to test staff and to offer testing to all nursing home residents 2020-08-26
QSO-20-31-NH REVISED COVID-19 Survey Activities, CARES Act Funding, Enhanced Enforcement for Infection Control deficiencies, and Quality Improvement Activities in Nursing Homes 2020-06-01
QSO-20-30-NH Nursing Home Reopening Recommendations for State and Local Officials 2020-05-18
QSO-20-29-NH Interim Final Rule Updating Requirements for Notification of Confirmed and Suspected COVID-19 Cases Among Residents and Staff in Nursing Homes 2020-05-06
QSO-20-28-NH REVISED Nursing Home Five Star Quality Rating System updates, Nursing Home Staff Counts, Frequently Asked Questions, and Access to Ombudsman (REVISED) 2020-07-09
QSO-20-27-Hospitals Guidance for Licensed Independent Freestanding Emergency Departments (EDs) to Participate in Medicare and Medicaid during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency 2020-04-21
QSO-20-26-NH Upcoming Requirements for Notification of Confirmed COVID-19 (or COVID-19 Persons under Investigation) Among Residents and Staff in Nursing Homes 2020-04-19
QSO-20-25-NH 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Long-Term Care Facility Transfer Scenarios 2020-04-13
QSO-20-24-ASC Guidance for Processing Attestations from Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs) Temporarily Enrolling as Hospitals during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency 2020-04-03
QSO-20-23-ICF/IID & PRTF Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IIDs) and Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTFs) 2020-03-30
QSO-20-22- ASC, CORF, CMHC, OPT, RHC/FQHCs Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in Outpatient Settings: FAQs and Considerations 2020-03-30
QSO-20-21-CLIA Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) Laboratory Guidance During COVID-19 Public Health Emergency 2020-03-26
QSO-20-20-All Prioritization of Survey Activities 2020-03-23
QSO-20-19-ESRD REVISED Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in dialysis facilities (Revised) 2020-03-30
QSO-20-18-HHA REVISED Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention ConcerningCoronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Home Health Agencies (HHAs) and Religious Nonmedical Healthcare Institutions (RNHCIs) 2020-04-23
QSO-20-17-All Guidance for use of Certain Industrial Respirators by Health Care Personnel 2020-03-10
QSO-20-16-Hospice Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention Concerning Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) by Hospice Agencies 2020-03-09
QSO-20-15 Hospital/CAH/EMTALA REVISED Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) Requirements and Implications Related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (Revised) 2020-03-30
QSO-20-14-NH REVISED Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in nursing homes (REVISED) 2020-03-13
QSO-20-13-Hospitals-CAHs REVISED Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in Hospitals, Psychiatric Hospitals, and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs): FAQs, Considerations for Patient Triage, Placement, Limits to Visitation and Availability of 1135 waivers. 2020-03-30
QSO-20-12-All Suspension of Survey Activities 2020-03-04