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CMS Issues Revised NF COVID-19 Visitation Guidance and Retires Testing Memo

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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued revised Quality Safety & Oversight Memo (QSO) 20-39-NH Nursing Home Visitation – COVID-19 and allows QSO-20-38-NH on COVID-19 Long-term Care (LTC) Facility Testing to expire.

Revised QSO-20-39-NH Visitation – COVID-19 provides updated guidance to align with the ending of the Public Health Emergency (PHE), which ended on May 11. The memo allows for visitation for all residents at all times and reminds providers that CMS still expects facilities to adhere to infection prevention and control recommendations in accordance with accepted national standards.

CMS allowed QSO-20-38-NH on COVID-19 Testing to expire on May 11. The memo reminds providers that testing for COVID-19 should be conducted by following accepted national standards, such as CDC recommendations. Providers are reminded to follow infection prevention and control requirements detailed at F-880.

Read the details of revised QSO-20-39-NH Nursing Home Visitation – COVID-19, including core principles of infection prevention.

Read expired QSO-20-38-NH on COVID-19 LTC Facility Testing for more information about CMS’ decision allowing this memo to expire.

Read QSO-23-13-ALL for additional guidance on the Expiration of the COVID-19 PHE, including information about the end of certain waivers and COVID-19-related requirements.