CMS releases more guidance on COVID-19 LTC transfers

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services yesterday issued additional guidance on transferring patients between long-term care facilities, which include skilled nursing facilities and nursing homes, in order to mitigate community spread of COVID-19. The guidance addresses several patient transfer scenarios and cohorting approaches. It also clarifies that transfers between two certified facilities are allowed without additional approval, while transfers to non-certified sites require state survey agency approval. In addition, the guidance builds upon prior guidance on working with local and state leaders to, where feasible, identify and designate facilities for separate patients and staffing teams based on COVID-19 status.