CMS Announces Sweeping Regulatory Changes that Affect Medicaid Providers
On August 25, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced sweeping regulatory changes that require nursing homes to test staff and offer testing to residents for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
On August 26, CMS released guidance for nursing homes and clinical laboratories to assist in enhancing their abilities to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to nursing home residents and their front line staff.
On today’s AHCA/FHCA Long-Term Care Industry Partner call, AHCA's Secretary Mary Mayhew stated that AHCA was reviewing the rule and would be evaluating what, if any, changes would need to be made to Florida’s rules (e.g., the Curative contract, etc.). Secretary Mayhew said that AHCA would be providing additional updates at a later time.
Further points on the call concerning the new CMS rule:
- The Curative test kits were not to be used to comply with the new CMS rule, as the Curative test kits were funded by the state to support the state testing requirement.
- There are three reasons to test:
- Routine testing based on a 7-day county positivity average;
- When staff, contractor, resident or visitor develops symptoms; and
- When there are new cases in staff or residents.
- The routine testing frequency is: less than 5% is monthly; 5-10% is weekly ;above 10% is twice a week. Florida counties are currently at: 5 below 5%; 40 between 5-10%; and 22 above 10%.
