Please read this memo carefully. This memo outlines testing requirements for nursing homes including testing of symptomatic residents and staff, testing in response to an outbreak and routine testing of staff. A revised focused infection control survey protocol is also included which incorporates the requirements in this memo. If attempts to meet the 48-hour turn-around time cannot be met, it is very important that homes document their specific attempts to comply with the testing requirements as outlined in the memo. Routine testing frequency for staff is based on the county-level positivity rates which will be updated weekly (see section titled, “COVID-19 Testing”): https://data.cms.gov/stories/s/COVID-19-Nursing-Home-Data/bkwz-xpvg. NOTE: This memo applies to homes certified for Medicare and/or Medicaid. It does not apply to residential care or assisted living facilities.
COVID-19 LTCF Guidance
This document has been revised to include guidance on the use of antigen tests and updates to guidance made over the last several weeks (specifically related to the change in timeframes for transmission-based precautions and updated reporting guidelines). The guidance can be found at: https://health.mo.gov/living/healthcondiseases/communicable/novel-coronavirus/professionals.php#collapseSix.
Guidance on Reopening of Long-Term Care Facilities
This document has been revised to include guidance on the use of antigen tests. The guidance can be found at: https://health.mo.gov/living/healthcondiseases/communicable/novel-coronavirus/professionals.php#collapseSix.
CMS Memo – QSO-20-38-NH
Missouri Interim Guidance for LTCF COVID-19 8-31-2020
Missouri Guidance on Reopening of Long-Term Care Facilities 8-31-20