The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services yesterday implemented several new infection control actions to combat COVID-19 in nursing homes. One action addresses the inconsistent rate of nursing home inspections mandated by CMS on March 4, which currently range from 11% to 100% across the states.

State survey agencies that fail to inspect all nursing homes by July 31 will be required to submit a corrective action plan or have their federal funds under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act redistributed to compliant states.

Another action expands penalties for nursing home deficiencies, which range from directed plans of correction to civil monetary penalties, with more significant actions for nursing homes with a history of past deficiencies or that cause actual harm or immediate jeopardy to residents.

 

The agency also is deploying additional technical assistance resources to nursing homes, which will focus on the approximately 3,000 low-performing nursing homes with a history of infection control challenges. 

Related News Articles

Headline
The AHA’s social media toolkit for spreading awareness of the flu focuses on the beginning of fall and the availability of the flu vaccine for at-risk,…
Headline
Measles cases have been reported by 42 states and jurisdictions this year, with 1,563 total nationwide, according to the latest data released yesterday by the…
Headline
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will update its immunization schedules for the COVID-19 and chickenpox vaccines to adopt recent recommendations…
Headline
AHA’s latest social media toolkit for spreading awareness of the flu focuses on the availability of the flu vaccine for at-risk, vulnerable populations as flu…
Headline
The Food and Drug Administration today issued a request for public comment on a series of questions regarding current approaches to evaluating artificial…
Headline
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Sept. 24 released its annual report on national sexually transmitted disease data, reporting a 9% decline in STD…