Updated CMS visitation guidance loosens visitation limitations

 

To: Federally certified facilities   From: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment   On Friday, November 12, 2021 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a revision to their nursing home visitation guidance. The updated guidance signifies the most comprehensive action since the beginning of the pandemic by CMS to address bringing residents and loved ones together.   Updates include: CMS facilities can no longer curb the number of visitors, frequency or length of the visit, which were all previously acceptable under the public health emergency. Visitors should still adhere to infection prevention protocols — physical distancing should still be maintained during peak gathering hours, like mealtimes.   Facilities should:    Always allow visitation for all residents in support of the resident's right to make choices about aspects of his or her life in the facility that are significant to the resident. Provide visitors and residents, and resident representatives of risks associated with visitation. Ensure a visit occurs in a manner that does not place other residents at risk (e.g., in the resident’s room). Continue to provide required education to residents and staff on the risks and benefits of the vaccines, offer to administer the vaccine, and report resident and staff vaccination data to CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network.   Please see the full announcement for details on indoor and outdoor visitation during an outbreak investigation, visitor testing and vaccination, compassionate care visits, access to the long-term care ombudsman, federal disability rights laws and protection and advocacy (P&A) programs, entry of health care workers and other providers of services, communal/dining activities, resident outings, and survey considerations.    CDPHE is reviewing the CMS revisions and determining areas that do not align between state and federal guidance. We will issue updates through our regular channels (COHFI, LTCF call, and newsletter) once that review is complete.    For questions about the updated guidance, please contact:   residentialcarestriketeam@state.co.us. cdphe_infectionprevention@state.co.us.