On March 30, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the new QSO-23-10-NH memo announcing increased infection control deficiency enforcement for nursing homes. The criteria for enhanced enforcement on infection control deficiencies that result in no resident harm has been expanded to include enforcement on noncompliance with Infection Prevention and Control (F880) combined with COVID-19 Vaccine Immunization Requirements for Residents and Staff (F887).
F-tag 887 states the facility must develop and implement policies and procedures for staff and residents to ensure the COVID-19 vaccine is offered unless contraindicated, they are educated, and provided current information on available doses. The resident’s medical record is to include documentation of the education, dose received, and if refused or contraindicated. The staff facility record is to include documentation that the education was provided, offering of the vaccine of information on obtaining the vaccine, and vaccine status. The facility will also maintain related information as indicated by NHSN.
Fact Sheets can be found at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) COVID-19 Vaccine Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) Fact Sheets for Recipients and Caregivers website.
Additional information on F887 COVID-19 Immunization regulatory guidance can be found in QSO-21-19-NH. Survey pathways can be found on the CMS Nursing Home webpage and under the downloads section on this CMS webpage. LeadingAge continues to develop webinars and resources on the updated requirements of participation which will be located on the LeadingAge learning hub. LeadingAge also continues to add QuickCasts on the regulatory groups. Updated resources have also been added on the Nursing Home RoP Tools and Resources webpage.
For more information about the updated requirements of participation and citations occurring in Ohio, please join the monthly STAT: Survey Tips and Tactics call. Register now for the April 12 call at 11:00AM. LeadingAge Ohio is sharing tips to assist members during the survey process. Send questions you would like addressed in future Tips of the Week to Stephanie DeWees at sdewees@leadingageohio.org.