The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a new Quality & Safety Memo requiring long-term care (LTC) facilities to test residents and staff for COVID-19 based on parameters set by the Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary. The memo revises staff testing guidelines, basing them on the facility's county level of community transmission rather than the county test positivity rate. The frequency of testing has also been updated. LTC facilities now have two options for conducting outbreak testing: a contact tracing approach or a broad-based testing approach. The memo emphasizes the importance of swift identification of COVID-19 cases to protect nursing home residents and staff. Noncompliance with these requirements will be cited at new tag F886. Facilities must document testing procedures, results, and actions taken based on results to demonstrate compliance.

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