05-01-2020, 03:10 PM
CMS Announces Independent Commission
to Address Safety and Quality in
Nursing Homes
Apr 30, 2020
As a part of President Trump’s Opening Up America Again effort,
the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a
new independent Commission that will conduct a comprehensive
assessment of the nursing home response to the 2019
Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Commission will
provide independent recommendations to the contractor to review
and report to CMS to help inform immediate and future responses
to COVID-19 in nursing homes. This unprecedented effort builds
upon the agency’s five-part plan unveiled last April to ensure
safety and quality in America’s nursing homes, as well as recent
CMS efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19 within these facilities.
Tomorrow marks the beginning of Older Americans Month and,
as we take this time to honor seniors, CMS remains committed
to enacting policies that benefit our Nation’s seniors.
“Safeguarding the health and, promoting the wellbeing and quality
of life, of the most vulnerable and fragile citizens is a top priority
for CMS,” said CMS Administrator Seema Verma.
“CMS has repeatedly taken early unprecedented, aggressive and
decisive action to protect nursing home residents during this pandemic.
And today, we are taking it one step further by asking that an
independent Commission provide recommendations to further
enhance efforts at the federal, state and local level, and help
strengthen the Nation’s response to Coronavirus and keeping
residents safe in nursing homes.”
Building on the Trump Administration’s actions to protect seniors,
the Commission will help inform efforts to safeguard the health
and quality of life of vulnerable Americans as CMS continues to
battle COVID-19 as well as preparing for future threats to resident
safety and public health. The Commission will include leading
industry experts, family members, clinicians, resident/patient
advocates, medical ethicists, administrators, academicians,
infection control and prevention professionals, state and
local authorities, and other selected experts. It is expected to
convene in late May and develop recommendations
on three key tasks:
Additionally, the Commission will focus on identifying potentially
innovative approaches to using nursing home data to allow for better
coordination between federal surveyors, state and local entities, and
nursing homes to address the current spread of
COVID-19 in nursing homes.
The Commission will also use data to assess efforts across the country
to stop or contain the virus within these facilities. Additional information
related to the Commission will be available soon.
“As we get ready to celebrate Older Americans Month, it is a reminder
of how important the work we do at CMS is to ensuring seniors have
access to quality care, not only during times like this, but at all times,”
said CMS Administrator Seema Verma. “CMS will continue to use every
tool at our disposal to protect the beneficiaries we serve.”
The new Commission is the most recent action in the Trump Administration’s
rapid and aggressive response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 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 April 30, 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 for a nationwide restriction on
nonessential medical staff and all visitors.
March 20, 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 April 30, 2020, CMS codified this guidance.
April 30, 2020
CMS awarded a contract which includes a new Commission
to advise the contractor for reporting to CMS on addressing
patient safety in safety and quality in nursing homes.
For more information on the Commission, visit:
https://www.cms.gov/files/document/coronavirus-commission-safety-and-quality-nursing-homes.pdf.
CMS also released guidance to State Survey Agencies for the
award and administration of supplemental funding provided by
the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES)
Act (P.L. 116-136). For information on the CARES Act grants to
State Survey Agencies, visit:
https://www.cms.gov/files/document/cares-act-financial-guidance-state-survey-agencies.pdf]
This action, and earlier CMS actions in response to the COVID-19 virus,
are part of the ongoing White House Task Force efforts. To keep up
with the important work the Task Force is doing in response
to COVID-19 click here www.coronavirus.gov.
For information specific to CMS, please
visit the Current Emergencies Website.
to Address Safety and Quality in
Nursing Homes
Apr 30, 2020
As a part of President Trump’s Opening Up America Again effort,
the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a
new independent Commission that will conduct a comprehensive
assessment of the nursing home response to the 2019
Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Commission will
provide independent recommendations to the contractor to review
and report to CMS to help inform immediate and future responses
to COVID-19 in nursing homes. This unprecedented effort builds
upon the agency’s five-part plan unveiled last April to ensure
safety and quality in America’s nursing homes, as well as recent
CMS efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19 within these facilities.
Tomorrow marks the beginning of Older Americans Month and,
as we take this time to honor seniors, CMS remains committed
to enacting policies that benefit our Nation’s seniors.
“Safeguarding the health and, promoting the wellbeing and quality
of life, of the most vulnerable and fragile citizens is a top priority
for CMS,” said CMS Administrator Seema Verma.
“CMS has repeatedly taken early unprecedented, aggressive and
decisive action to protect nursing home residents during this pandemic.
And today, we are taking it one step further by asking that an
independent Commission provide recommendations to further
enhance efforts at the federal, state and local level, and help
strengthen the Nation’s response to Coronavirus and keeping
residents safe in nursing homes.”
Building on the Trump Administration’s actions to protect seniors,
the Commission will help inform efforts to safeguard the health
and quality of life of vulnerable Americans as CMS continues to
battle COVID-19 as well as preparing for future threats to resident
safety and public health. The Commission will include leading
industry experts, family members, clinicians, resident/patient
advocates, medical ethicists, administrators, academicians,
infection control and prevention professionals, state and
local authorities, and other selected experts. It is expected to
convene in late May and develop recommendations
on three key tasks:
- Putting nursing home residents first by ensuring they are
protected from COVID-19 and improving the responsiveness
of care delivery to maximize the quality of life for residents.
- Strengthening efforts to enable rapid and effective
identification and mitigation of COVID-19 transmission
(and other infectious disease) in nursing homes; and
- Enhancing strategies to improve compliance with
infection control policies in response to COVID-19.
Additionally, the Commission will focus on identifying potentially
innovative approaches to using nursing home data to allow for better
coordination between federal surveyors, state and local entities, and
nursing homes to address the current spread of
COVID-19 in nursing homes.
The Commission will also use data to assess efforts across the country
to stop or contain the virus within these facilities. Additional information
related to the Commission will be available soon.
“As we get ready to celebrate Older Americans Month, it is a reminder
of how important the work we do at CMS is to ensuring seniors have
access to quality care, not only during times like this, but at all times,”
said CMS Administrator Seema Verma. “CMS will continue to use every
tool at our disposal to protect the beneficiaries we serve.”
The new Commission is the most recent action in the Trump Administration’s
rapid and aggressive response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 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 April 30, 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 for a nationwide restriction on
nonessential medical staff and all visitors.
March 20, 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 April 30, 2020, CMS codified this guidance.
April 30, 2020
CMS awarded a contract which includes a new Commission
to advise the contractor for reporting to CMS on addressing
patient safety in safety and quality in nursing homes.
For more information on the Commission, visit:
https://www.cms.gov/files/document/coronavirus-commission-safety-and-quality-nursing-homes.pdf.
CMS also released guidance to State Survey Agencies for the
award and administration of supplemental funding provided by
the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES)
Act (P.L. 116-136). For information on the CARES Act grants to
State Survey Agencies, visit:
https://www.cms.gov/files/document/cares-act-financial-guidance-state-survey-agencies.pdf]
This action, and earlier CMS actions in response to the COVID-19 virus,
are part of the ongoing White House Task Force efforts. To keep up
with the important work the Task Force is doing in response
to COVID-19 click here www.coronavirus.gov.
For information specific to CMS, please
visit the Current Emergencies Website.
Semper Fidelis
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