The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced it will require nursing homes to report any COVID-19 cases directly to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – and mandated that homes notify residents and families of all COVID-19 cases or face penalties.
Homes must inform residents and families within 12 hours of the occurrence of a single confirmed infection of COVID-19, or three or more residents or staff with new-onset respiratory symptoms that occur within 72 hours, with warnings that a failure to report “could result in an enforcement action.”
However, some are saying it is ‘too little, too late’. A recent survey by McKnight’s Long-term Care News found 34% of facilities reported at least one positive case of COVID-19 which would equate to over 5,000 US nursing homes with COVID-19 cases among residents and staff.
The requirement is also limited to nursing homes – other long-term care facilities such as assisted living are regulated by the states, many of which do not mandate public reporting.
