Earlier this month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published an
Interim Final Rule and a
QSO memo that requires nursing homes to submit COVID-19 vaccination rates and treatments given to residents.
The rule is scheduled to go into effect on May 21, 2021. However, CMS will start to enforce compliance and issuing Civil Money Penalties (CMPs) for facilities that did not report data to NHSN by midnight on June 13.
To reduce the risk of CMPs, AHCA/NCAL recommends that facilities report data to the NHSN COVID-19 Vaccination and Therapeutics modules immediately.
Tips on Submitting:
- Facilities should start submitting data immediately to the two modules (COVID-19 Vaccination and Therapeutics) to make sure they learn how to do it correctly. Submitting vaccination data at the last minute potentially will not allow enough time to resolve any challenges with the submission process before the deadline.
- Review the instructions and training provided by the CDC before submitting data. (See below.)
- Providers do NOT need to upgrade to SAMS Level-3 access to submit vaccination data.
- Providers should have at least two people trained with a process in place to prevent gaps in reporting (i.e., vacations, illness, resignation/termination) and to maintain compliance with reporting requirements.
NHSN COVID-19 Training and Instructions for Completion
- COVID-19 Therapeutics Module
- COVID-19 Vaccination Module
For more information, providers are encouraged to view the webinar recorded on this new rule or contact
COVID-19@ahca.org for more information.