Attn: Nursing Home Providers
IMPORTANT: CMS Issues Memo: QSO-20-38 Revised 4/27/2021 and QSO 20-39 Revised 4/27/2021
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued QSO-20-38-NH REVISED (PDF) 4/27/2021 with updated guidance regarding COVID-19 testing of residents and staff who are vaccinated and those who are unvaccinated. This guidance includes new information regarding routine testing of staff. For information on testing staff and residents who may have been exposed to COVID-19, see the CDC’s guidance Updated Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations in Response to COVID-19 Vaccination issued April 27, 2021.
CMS also issued revised guidance regarding indoor visitation, communal activities and dining and survey considerations in QSO-20-39-NH Revised (PDF) 4/27/2021 Nursing Home Visitation COVID-19. This guidance is also based on the recently updated guidance from the CDC: Updated Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations in Response to COVID-19 Vaccination
Required visitation
Facilities shall not restrict visitation without a reasonable clinical or safety cause, consistent with 42 CFR § 483.10(f) (4) (v). A nursing home must facilitate in-person visitation consistent with the applicable CMS regulations, which can be done by applying the guidance in QSO-20-39-NH Revised (PDF). The failure to facilitate in-person visitation without adequate reasons related to clinical necessity or resident safety, would constitute a potential violation of 42 CFR § 483.10(f) (4), and the facility would be subject to citation and enforcement actions.
Questions
If you have questions about this information, please contact your Division of Quality Assurance Bureau of Nursing Home Resident Care Regional Office.
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