How can nursing homes prevent the spread of the Coronavirus?

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issues guidance on COVID-19

Earlier this month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued guidance to both facilities and surveyors regarding COVID-19 (the Coronavirus). Some of the key points are:

• CMS has implemented protections to limit the spread of the virus in health care facilities.

• Inspections — CMS is temporarily telling state survey agencies to focus their facility inspections exclusively on issues related to infection control and serious health and safety threats.

• Infection control policies — CMS is telling facilities to review policies and procedures to ensure compliance with both CMS’ infection control requirements and the guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• This shift in survey prioritization will further enable state inspectors to address the spread of COVID-19.

• Any information or complaints that raise concerns related to immediate jeopardy or allegations of abuse will still be investigated.

The following linked press releases provide a good summary and some excellent resource links.

March 4, 2020: CMS announces actions to address spread of Coronavirus 

March 10, 2020: CMS issues Frequently Asked Questions on guidance to state survey agencies suspending non-emergency survey inspections