CMS expands COVID-19 requirements for long-term care

This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an interim final rule requiring long-term care facilities in the Medicare and Medicaid programs to offer the COVID-19 vaccine to residents and staff, educate them on the vaccine’s benefits and potential side effects, and begin reporting weekly COVID-19 vaccination and treatment data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Healthcare Safety Network by June 13. The education and vaccination requirements also apply to intermediate care facilities serving clients with intellectual disabilities. CMS is seeking comment on whether to extend the requirements to other congregate living settings. (CMS memorandum, 5/11/21)