On August 25, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published an interim final rule that established Long-Term Care (LTC) Facility Testing Requirements for Staff and Residents. Specifically, skilled nursing facilities are required to test residents and staff for COVID-19 based on parameters set forth by the HHS Secretary. Included in the requirements is a trigger for routine testing for staff and residents based on the extent of the virus in the community as indicated by CMS it its published report on county positivity rate in the prior week.
Green
|
Less than 5% positivity
OR fewer than 20 tests
|
Once a month
|
Yellow
|
5-10% positivity
OR
greater than 10% positivity
and less than 500 tests
and less than 2,000 tests per 100,000 people
|
Once a week
|
Red
|
Greater than 10% positivity
and do not meet the criteria for 'green' or 'yellow'
|
Twice a week
|