The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on May 8, 2023 that the August 26, 2023 QSO Memo, “Interim Final rule (IFC), CMS-3401-IFC, Additional Policy and Regulatory Revisions in Response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency related to Long-Term Care (LTC) Facility Testing Requirements” would expire on May 11, 2023. The expired QSO Memo (QSO-20-38-NH) states:
- Effective May 11, 2023, this Memo is no longer in effect.
- COVID-19 testing should be conducted per nationally accepted standards, such as the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
- Routine testing of asymptomatic nursing home staff is no longer recommended. Testing may be performed at the facility’s discretion.
- If noncompliance with COVID-19 testing is identified, it will be cited at F880 Infection Prevention and Control.
- Recommendations for testing individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 have been updated.
This Memo was released with an update to QSO-20-30-NH related to Nursing Home Visitation and in tandem with updated CDC Recommendations on its, “Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic.