Articles and Blogs

Skilled nursing facilities (“SNFs”) are facing many challenges as they reopen their communities to visitors. State health departments are issuing guidance on outdoor SNF visits and phased reopening of businesses. On June 24, 2020, CMS released visitor guidance in the form of several pages of FAQs “Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Nursing Home Visitation”... READ MORE

Skilled nursing facilities (“SNFs”) are facing many challenges as their residents and staff encounter COVID-19. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) and state departments of health have focused on infection control surveys, programs, and prevention. This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Center for Preparedness and Response... READ MORE

On March 23, 2020, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) announced the preliminary results of a recent survey of a nursing home in Kirkland, Washington, the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in Washington. According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) report, 81 residents, 34 staff and 14 visitors also became... READ MORE

On March 13, 2020, Secretary Azar of the Department of Health and Human Services (the “HHS”) issued a letter titled “Waiver or Modification of Requirements Under Section 1135 of the Social Security Act” (the “Azar Letter”) that grants the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (the “CMS”) the authority to issue waivers specific to... READ MORE

On March 10, 2020, the Quality, Safety & Oversight Group at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued a memorandum entitled “Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention Concerning Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19”) in Home Health Agencies (“HHAs”)” (“QSO Memo”) that announced recommendations for HHAs regarding taking appropriate action to address potential and confirmed COVID-19... READ MORE

On March 17, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued a memorandum titled “Information for PACE Organizations Regarding Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)” (“CMS Memo”) that announced COVID‑19 guidance for Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (“PACE”) program organizations (“PACE Organization”). The PACE program is a... READ MORE

On March 13, 2020, the Quality, Safety & Oversight Group at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued a second revision of a memorandum entitled “Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19”) in nursing homes (REVISED)” (“QSO Memo”) that announced recommendations for skilled nursing facilities (“SNFs”) regarding restricting visitors, transfers... READ MORE

On March 4, 2020, the Quality, Safety & Oversight Group at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued a memorandum entitled “Suspension of Survey Activities” (“QSO Memo”) to announce that it is suspending non-emergency inspections across the United States so that inspectors may focus on infectious diseases and abuse. CMS states this... READ MORE

Most skilled nursing facilities are not correctly complying with life safety requirements or emergency preparedness requirements, according to three recent reports by the Office of the Inspector General (“OIG”) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. OIG recently issued three reports on its audits of life safety requirements or emergency preparedness requirements:... READ MORE

On November 22, 2019, the Quality, Safety & Oversight Group at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued a memorandum entitled “Updates and Initiatives to Ensure Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes” (“QSO Memo”) that announced a status update on the Interpretive Guidance for: (1) Phase 3 elements of the regulations in Part... READ MORE