The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and State Survey Agencies (SSAs) are conducting targeted infection control surveys of select home health and hospice providers to ensure providers are following proper infection control practices during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Organizations are being identified for the surveys through collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR).

CMS Conducts Targeted Infection Control Surveys

What Home Health Providers Need to Know

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and State Survey Agencies (SSAs) are conducting targeted infection control surveys of select home health and hospice providers to ensure providers are following proper infection control practices during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Organizations are being identified for the surveys through collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR).

CMS can conduct Focused Infection Control Surveys based on the number of COVID-19 positive cases in an area or in an agency, or to determine if an agency is following appropriate infection control practices. Specifically, Surveyors will expect to see evidence that staff, patients, and family members/caregivers have been provided education on infection control procedures and how to avoid the transmission of COVID-19. Surveyors will also expect to see evidence that any equipment and/or supplies used in the provision of care is cleaned following appropriate infection control practices during the home visit.

The following information has been provided by ACHC

Items needed for a Focused Infection Control Survey:  An Infection Control Plan

A comprehensive Infection Control Plan should include (some of the items may also be addressed in your Emergency Preparedness Plan):

Policies and procedures that address proper infection control practices when providing care to COVID-19 positive patients.

Policies and procedures that restrict staff who have signs and symptoms of a respiratory infection reporting to work, including protocols to follow for staff who develop signs and symptoms of a respiratory infection while working.

Policies and procedures that address staffing issues and patient admission during an emergency situation.

Proper screening of patients for suspected COVID-19.

Reporting of persons under investigation (PUI) for COIVID-19 and patients who test positive for COVID-19 to the appropriate local and state public health authorities.

Tracking of COVID-19 positive patients, including an analysis of the data to ensure staff is practicing proper infection control to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Evidence of education to staff (including those providing care under contract) on proper infection control practices, including education related to the donning, doffing, and disposal of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Evidence of adequate PPE for staff providing care to patients.

In addition, hospice inpatient facilities should have additional policies that address:

The isolation of COVID-19 patients,

Visitor screening practices and visitation limitations, and

Signage at facility entrances with visitation restrictions and screening procedures.

Current patient list that identifies patients who are COVID-19 positive and persons under investigation of COVID-19

Medical record documentation contains:

Evidence of patient screening for suspected COVID-19 upon referral and/or admission visit,

Utilization of proper PPE while providing care to patients, and

Education provided to patients and family/caregivers regarding care to persons under investigation as well as positive for COVID-19.

Employee list, including those providing care under contract.

Evidence the agency reported COVID-19 positive patients to appropriate local and state public health authorities.

List of PPE provided for clinicians.
For further clarification, review CMS guidance at https://https://www.cms.gov/files/document/qso-20-18-hha-revised.pdf

Did you know?

Alora Homecare Software has a COVID-19 Screening feature, include in our cloud based, mobile ready solution for home health care agencies? Aside from features to protect caregivers and patients from the dangerous threats that viral pandemics pose, ALORA has been engineered to function as a “whole agency” solution that brings simplicity to the process of running a home health care business. Caregivers can enjoy an easier user experience with Alora’s award winning navigation paired with phenomenal customer service. Administrators can benefit from a suite of features that addresses both the management side, and the patient care side of home health care daily workflow.

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