[UPDATED] CMS Releases Third Interim Final Rule related to COVID-19

On Tuesday, August 25, CMS released a third Interim Final Rule with Comment Period (IFC) that represents a ramping up of CMS’ efforts to track and control the spread of COVID-19. Among the provisions outlined in this rule are:

• The establishment of a new requirement for LTC facilities to test staff and facility residents for COVID-19, the frequency of which will be based on the degree of community spread (and will be announced through additional guidance).
• CMS will impose civil monetary penalties (CMPs) for each week that a LTC facility fails to report COVID-19 related information to the CDC.
• Hospital and critical access hospital Conditions of Participation are updated to require tracking the incidence and impact of COVID-19.
• All laboratories, including labs and nursing homes using point-of-care testing instruments to perform COVID testing with a CLIA certificate, must report COVID-19 testing results. If the lab does not report the required information, CMS will impose CMPs. Labs will have a one-time, three-week grace period to begin reporting the required data.

For more information, access Casamba’s CMS Third Interim Final Rule in Response to COVID-19 Summary.

Access the Fact Sheet.

Access the IFC.