BriggsNetNews

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP
Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare

Late afternoon on Thursday, May 14, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a call for nominations for the new contractor-led Coronavirus Commission on Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes “to help inform immediate and future responses to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) within these facilities. This independent Commission’s work will build on the Administration’s long history of decisive actions to protect nursing home residents. The Commission will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the overall response to the COVID-19 pandemic in nursing homes and will inform immediate and future actions to address the virus in order to safeguard the health and quality of life for an especially vulnerable population of Americans.  The Commission will consist of a diverse group of individuals, which may include industry experts, clinicians, resident/patient advocates, family members of individuals residing in nursing homes, medical ethicists, nursing home administrators, academics, infection control and prevention professionals, state and local authorities, and other stakeholders whose expertise can contribute to one or more of the areas on which the Commission will focus.”

The Mitre Corporation is the contractor for “convening the Commission, which includes nominating and selecting members, facilitating meetings, and independently producing a final report to CMS regarding the commission’s findings and recommendations. MITRE will submit the final report to CMS on September 1, 2020.  The Commission will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the nursing home response to the COVID-19 pandemic which will inform efforts to safeguard the health and quality of life of vulnerable Americans as CMS continues to battle COVID-19, as well as prepare for future threats to resident safety and public health. The Commission will consist of a diverse group of individuals which may include industry experts, clinicians, residents, patient advocates, family members, medical ethicists, administrators, academicians, infection control and prevention professionals, state and local authorities, and other stakeholders whose expertise can contribute to one or more of the areas on which the Commission will focus. The Commission will virtually convene at the beginning of June and may convene 2-3 additional times during the summer. The Commission’s work is expected to be completed by September 1, 2020.”

To submit a nomination to be considered for membership on the Commission, please fill out and submit a brief nominee application and upload your CV or resume. The deadline for submissions is 5 PM EDT on Friday, May 22, 2020.  The link to this information is found here.