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CMS Returning to Certain Pre-COVID-19 Policies in Long-term Care and Other Facilities

CMS is taking steps to continue to protect nursing home residents’ health and safety by announcing guidance that restores certain minimum standards for compliance with CMS requirements. Restoring these standards will be accomplished by phasing out some temporary emergency declaration waivers that have been in effect throughout the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). These temporary emergency waivers were designed to provide facilities with the flexibilities needed to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Update to COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers for Specific Providers  QSO-22-15-NH-NLTC-LSC

• CMS has issued QSO-22-15-NH & NLTC & LSC​, which provides an update to COVID-19 emergency declaration blanket waivers for specific providers.   

  CMS will end specified waivers in two groups: 

• ​60 days from issuance of this memorandum – Monday, June 6, 2022
  • Physical Environment
  • Life Safety Code (LSC) and Health Care Facilities Code (HCFC) ITM
  • Outside Windows and Doors
  • Life Safety Code-Fire Drills & Temporary Construction
  • Paid Feeding Assistants for LTC facilities
  • In-Service Training for LTC facilities
  • Training and Certification of Nurse Aides for SNF/NFs 
• ​30 days from issuance of this memorandum – Saturday, May 7, 2022 ​
  • Resident Groups  
  • Physician Delegation of Tasks in SNFs
  • Physician Visits
  • Physician Visits in Skilled Nursing Facilities/Nursing Facilities
  • Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI)
  • Detailed Information Sharing for Discharge Planning for Long-Term Care (LTC) Facilities
  • Clinical Records  

Please refer to the memo​ for specific details around each of the waiver categories.