• The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced new regulatory requirements that will require nursing homes to inform residents, their families and representatives of COVID-19 cases in their facilities. In addition, CMS will now require nursing homes to report cases of COVID-19 directly to the CDC.

• CMS Issues Recommendations to Re-Open Health Care Systems in Areas with Low Incidence of COVID-19: The new CMS guidelines recommend a gradual transition and encourage health care providers to coordinate with local and state public health officials, and to review the availability of PPE and other supplies, workforce availability, facility readiness, and testing capacity when making the decision to re-start or increase in-person care.

• DQA Memo 20-004: Wisconsin Nursing Homes CMS 1135 Waiver Provisions and Governor Evers Executive Order # 21

• DQA Memo 20-005: Guidance for Ambulatory Surgical Centers Temporarily Enrolling as a Hospital during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

• The "Badger Bounce Back" plan outlines criteria for Wisconsin to be able to reopen its economy in phases and includes steps to make sure workers and businesses are prepared to reopen as soon as it's safe to do so. To dial down Safer at Home and supercharge the Badger Bounce Back, we need to:
• Reduce the number of cases and symptoms reported
• Decrease the number of infected healthcare workers
• Increase lab capacity and testing
• Increase contact tracing
• Track the spread of COVID-19
• Increase health care capacity
• Procure more personal protective equipment

• The next DQA Assisted Living Forum will be held Tuesday, April 21 from 10-11 a.m. Forums will be held weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays until further notice.