CMS NEWS ALERT: Nursing Home COVID-19 Data and Inspections Results Available on Nursing Home Compare

CMS NEWS ALERT: Nursing Home COVID-19 Data and Inspections Results Available on Nursing Home Compare Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is posting the first set of underlying coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) nursing home data. On April 19, 2020, CMS announced the requirement that nursing homes to inform residents, their families, and their representatives of COVID-19 cases in their facilities. In addition to this, nursing homes are required to report COVID-19 cases and deaths directly to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and today CMS is making this data publicly available. As part of today’s announcement CMS is also posting the results from the targeted inspections announced on March 4, 2020, to allow inspectors to focus on the most serious health and safety threats like infectious diseases and abuse during the pandemic. This is part of the Trump Administration’s historic transparency efforts to ensure residents, families and the general public have information about COVID-19 in nursing homes. COVID-19 Nursing Home Data The data released today shows that as of May 31, 2020, about 13,600 nursing homes – approximately 88 percent of the 15,400 Medicare and Medicaid nursing homes – had reported the required data to the (CDC). These facilities reported over 95,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and almost 32,000 deaths. The next set of data will be updated in two weeks. Going forward after that date, CMS plans to update the data weekly. For a quick overview of the nursing home COVID-19 data visit here: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/covid-nursing-home-reporting-numbers-5-31-20.pdf To view the Nursing Home COVID-19 data, visit here: https://data.cms.gov/Covid19-nursing-home-data To view the state survey memo on COVID-19 nursing home data, visit here: https://www.cms.gov/medicareprovider-enrollment-and-certificationsurveycertificationgeninfopolicy-and-memos-states-and/release-covid-19-nursing-home-data Targeted Inspection Results Since March 4, CMS and its network of state-based inspectors have conducted over 8,300 surveys with the results of a total of 5,700 available today. The results of the completed surveys and the reports are available on Nursing Home Compare. CMS plans to post the results of the inspections monthly on an ongoing basis as they are completed. To view the inspections results, visit: https://www.medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare/search.html? To view the survey reports, visit: https://www.cms.gov/files/zip/nursing-home-infection-control-surveys.zip To see the state survey memo on nursing home inspections, visit here: https://www.cms.gov/medicareprovider-enrollment-and-certificationsurveycertificationgeninfopolicy-and-memos-states-and/posting-nursing-home-inspections To view the frequently asked questions on the nursing home COVID-19 data and the inspection results visit here: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/covid-nursing-home-data-release-external-faqs.pdf The full list of CMS Public Health Action for Nursing Homes on COVID-19 to date is in the chart below. CMS Public Health Action for Nursing Homes on COVID-19 as of June 4, 2020 February 6, 2020 CMS took action to prepare the nation’s healthcare facilities for the COVID-19 threat. March 4, 2020 CMS issued new guidance related to the screening of entrants into nursing homes. March 10, 2020 CMS issued guidance related to the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). March 13, 2020 CMS issued guidance on the restriction of nonessential medical staff and all visitors except in certain limited situations. March 23, 2020 CMS announced a suspension of routine inspections, and an exclusive focus on immediate jeopardy situations and infection control inspections. March 30, 2020 CMS announced that hospitals, laboratories, and other entities can perform tests for COVID-19 on people at home and in other community-based settings outside of the hospital – including nursing homes. April 2, 2020 CMS issued a call to action for nursing homes and state and local governments reinforcing infection control responsibilities and urging leaders to work closely with nursing homes on access to testing and PPE.  April 15, 2020 CMS announced the agency will nearly double payment for certain lab tests that use high-throughput technologies to rapidly diagnose large numbers of COVID-19 cases. April 19, 2020 CMS announced it will require nursing homes to report cases of COVID-19 to all residents and their families, as well as directly to the CDC. On May 1, CMS implemented the proposed policy in an Interim Final Rule. The rule became effective on May 8. April 30, 2020 CMS announced the formation of an independent Commission that will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the nursing home response to COVID-19. May 6, 2020 CMS released a memorandum to State Survey Agency directors providing more details on the new reporting requirements of the Interim Final Rule. May 13, 2020 CMS published a new informational toolkit comprised of recommendations and best practices from a variety of front line health care providers, governors’ COVID-19 task forces, associations and other organizations and experts that is intended to serve as a catalogue of resources dedicated to addressing the specific challenges facing nursing homes as they combat COVID-19. Toolkit is found here: Toolkit May 18, 2020 CMS issued guidance for state and local officials on the reopening of nursing homes. June 1, 2020 CMS issued guidance to states on COVID-19 survey activities, CARES Act funding, enhanced enforcement for infection control deficiencies, and quality improvement activities in nursing homes. CMS also issued a letter to Governors. June 4, 2020 CMS post first set of underlying COVID-19 nursing home data and results from targeted inspections conducted by the agency since March 4, 2020 linked on Nursing Home Compare.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has sent this Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) Update. To contact Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) go to our contact us page.