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November 18, 2021

CMS Revises Survey and Certification Memorandum regarding Nursing Home Visitation

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a revised Survey and Certification Memorandum QSO-20-39-NH on November 12, 2021, relating to nursing home visitation during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The revised guidance specifies that facilities must screen visitors and must exclude visitors that have symptoms of COVID-19, that have a positive viral test for COVID-19, or that currently meet the criteria for quarantine. The revised guidance specifies that facilities must allow indoor visitation at all times for all residents as permitted under the applicable regulations. CMS cautions facilities to ensure visitation is conducted in a manner that takes into account infection prevention procedures, such as limiting gatherings where large numbers of visitors are in the same space at the same time and physical distancing of at least six feet between people cannot be maintained.