CMS unveils enhanced enforcement actions for nursing homes based on COVID-19 data, inspections

Editor's Note

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on June 1 unveiled enhanced enforcement actions for nursing homes with violations of infection control practices.

The enhanced and targeted accountability actions are based on trends in recent data regarding the incidence of COVID-19 in nursing homes and infection control inspections.

CMS is increasing civil money penalties for facilities with persistent infection control violations and imposing enforcement actions on lower level infection control deficiencies to ensure they are addressed quickly.

Using CARES Act funding, states will be required to perform on-site surveys of nursing homes with past COVID-19 outbreaks, and they will be required to perform on-site surveys within 3 to 5 days of identification of new COVID-19 suspected and confirmed cases.