CMS Announces New Reporting and Testing Requirements for Nursing Homes

Posted in COVID-19, Senior Living

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

CMS has been busy once again – now with a 3rd Interim Final Rule with Comment Period (CMS-3401-IFC).

AHCA/NCAL has posted a High-Level Summary that provides an easier-to-digest (3-pages) view of this IFC.  Thank you AHCA/NCAL! 

You and your team should still review the entire IFC and provide comment back to CMS as warranted.  Please note that CMS has slipped in a few additional items.  Here’s the Table of Contents:

  1. Background
  2. Provisions of the Interim Final Rule with Comment Period (IFC)

A. New Enforcement Requirement for LTC Facilities

B. Condition of Participation (CoP) Requirements for Hospitals and CAHs to Report COVID-19 Data As Specified by the Secretary During the PHE for COVID-19

C. Requirements for Laboratories to Report SARS-CoV-2 Test Results During the PHE for COVID-19

D. Quality Reporting: Updates to the Extraordinary Circumstances Exceptions (ECE) Granted for Four Value-Based Purchasing Programs in Response to the PHE for COVID-19, and Update to the Performance Period for the FY 2022 SNF VBP Program E. NCD Procedural Volumes for Facilities and Practitioners to Maintain Medicare Coverage

F. Limits on COVID-19 and Related Testing without an Order and Expansion of Testing Order Authority

G. Recognizing Temporary Premium Credits as Premium Reductions

H. Addressing the Impact of COVID-19 on Part C and Part D Quality Rating Systems

I. Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Updates

J. Requirement for Long-Term Care (LTC) Facilities to Test Facility Residents and Staff for COVID-19

  1. Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking
  2. Collection of Information Requirements
  3. Response to Comments
  4. Regulatory Impact Analysis

Regulations Text