The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a new Quality & Safety Memo, QSO-20-17-ALL, to expand the range of facemasks healthcare workers may use in situations involving COVID-19 and other respiratory infections. The memo highlights that facemasks are an acceptable temporary alternative when the supply chain of respirators cannot meet the demand. It also states that facilities should prioritize respirators for procedures that pose the highest exposure risk to healthcare providers. Facilities are advised to return to using respirators when the supply chain is restored and to implement a respiratory protection program if they do not already have one. The memo also provides updated recommendations on eye protection, medical gowns, gloves, and airborne infection isolation rooms. CMS surveyors will use these recommendations to determine if Medicare and Medicaid providers and suppliers are complying with infection control protocols.

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