COVID-19 Survey Activities – CMS Memo Distributed 6/1/20

To: Skilled Nursing Facilities On June 1, 2020 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a memorandum providing information about the COVID-19 survey activities, CARES Act funding, enhanced enforcement for infection control deficiencies, and quality improvement activities in nursing homes. To view the entire memo, click here: COVID-CAREs Survey and Enforcement Memo. The memo specifically addresses COVID-19 survey activities. It specifically requires states to complete 100% of their focused infection control nursing home surveys by July 31, 2020. Colorado has already completed 100% of these surveys. The memo also states that in addition to completing the focused infection control surveys, states are also required to implement the following COVID-19 survey activities: 1.    Perform on-site surveys (within 30 days of this memo) of nursing homes with previous COVID-19 outbreaks, defined as:  ·         Cumulative confirmed cases/bed capacity at 10% or greater OR ·         Cumulative confirmed plus suspected cases/bed capacity at 20% or greater; OR ·         Ten or more deaths reported due to COVID-19 2.    Perform on-site surveys (within three to five days of identification) of any nursing home with 3 or more new COVID-19 suspected and confirmed cases in the since the last National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) COVID-19 report, or 1 confirmed resident case in a facility that was previously COVID-free. State Survey Agencies are encouraged to communicate with their State Healthcare Associated Infection coordinators prior to initiating these surveys.  3.    Starting in FY 2021, perform annual Focused Infection Control surveys of 20 percent of nursing homes based on State discretion or additional data that identifies facility and community risks. Currently CDPHE is working with CMS to clarify the guidance and determine a path forward for regulating nursing homes during this COVID-19 pandemic. As more information becomes available, it will be distributed to facilities via the portal and placed on the Health Facilities Blog. Please review the entire memo for additional information about CARES Act funding, enhanced enforcement for infection control deficiencies, and quality improvement activities. Margaret Mohan Branch Chief Acute Care and Nursing Facilities