On May 8th CMS revised QSO-20-39-NH directing nursing homes to follow nationally accepted standards such as the CDC recommendations for resident and staff testing, indoor visitation and the adherence to infection prevention and control. The memo offers suggestions for providers, including posting visual alerts such as signs or posters at the entrance and in strategic places throughout the building focused on instructions about the current IPC recommendations (when to use source control). In addition, if a resident would like a visit during an outbreak investigation, the visit should ideally occur in the resident’s room, source control should be worn, and physical distancing should be followed. The FAQ document attached to the MEMO has also been updated. The memo advises that states may instruct nursing homes to take additional measures to make nursing homes safer; it encourages states to work with CMS on measures they are considering.
