The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has expanded the criteria that will trigger a focused infection control survey at a nursing home, according to a revised CMS memo.

The new criteria are as follows:

• multiple weeks with new COVID-19 cases;

• low staffing;

• selection as a "special focus facility" per the Social Security Act;

• concerns related to conducting outbreak testing per CMS requirements; or

• allegations or complaints which pose a risk for harm or immediate jeopardy to the health or safety of residents which are related to certain areas, such as abuse or quality of care (e.g., pressure ulcers, weight loss, depression, decline in functioning).

The revisions come now that there is the increased availability of resources for the testing of residents and staff and factors related to the quality of care, CMS notes.

CMS indicated that it is working with state survey agencies to identify facilities that meet the above criteria. The focused infection control survey, which will be performed by the state agencies, are to start within 3-5 days of identification. CMS noted that facilities which meet the criteria to trigger a survey will not need to be resurveyed if a focused survey was conducted within the previous three weeks.

The updated memo also notes that surveyors performing the focused infection control surveys should keep an eye out for and then investigate concerns related to residents who have experienced a significant decline in their condition during the public health emergency.

As McKnight's Long-Term Care News reports, the memo builds upon requirements issued in the middle of 2020. "Since June, CMS has required states to perform onsite infection control-focused surveys by the end July at nursing homes with previous COVID-19 outbreaks, or within three to five days of any nursing home with three or more new confirmed cases since their last report to the National Health Care Safety Network."

Infection Control Consulting Services (ICCS) is actively assisting many nursing homes working to comply with survey requirements and continuing to implement COVID-19 prevention practices. To learn more ICCS's COVID-19-related services, click here.