Testing

Last week, CMS issued QSO-20-38-NH, providing guidance on the Interim Final Rule released on Aug. 25, 2020, and its requirements for COVID-19 testing of nursing home staff and residents. QSO 20-38-NH addresses when nursing facilities are required to test staff and residents for COVID-19 as a requirement of participation in Medicare and Medicaid and provides a revised survey tool for surveyors to assess compliance with the new testing requirements.

The effective date of the rule will depend upon the date of the rule’s publication in the Federal Register. IHCA estimates the effective date could come as early as Wednesday, Sept. 2. Once it becomes effective, all nursing facilities would be required to test staff at least once a month and up to twice a week, depending on the facility’s county positivity rate in the past week. IHCA has issued this guidance (link) and developed a new testing toolkit to assist members in complying with the new QSO.