Residential Care Services Provides Reminders of Vaccine Recommendations

In an amended Dear Provider Letter to both assisted living and skilled nursing facilities, Residential Care Services reminds providers that flu, Covid-19, RSV and pneumococcal vaccines are the best protection against illness. Clarification is provided from the previous letter issued regarding guidance and resources. Please disregard the previous letter dated October 16, 2024.
Three additional Dear Provider Letters have been issued for skilled nursing facilities regarding the following topics:
- Pre-Admission Screening & Resident Review (PASRR) Webinars being held on November 19 & 20. Read More 052 – PASRR Webinar.pdf
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a QSO Memo regarding nursing facility compliance with residents’ rights and their right to vote. The memo reiterates that it is a regulatory expectation that nursing home residents have unimpeded ability to exercise their right to vote as a citizen of the United States. Facilities must ensure residents are able to exercise their Constitutional right to vote without interference, coercion, discrimination, or reprisal from the facility. States, localities, and facility owners and administrators are expected to collaborate to support a resident’s right to vote. More information can be found in the Dear Provider Letter 024-051.pdf.
- The Dear Provider Letter regarding updates to the nursing home Care Compare Staffing and Quality Measures discusses changes to the Five Star Rating System Quality Measures for facilities related to precise staffing data. On October 4, 2024, CMS issued a QSO Memo effective immediately. The memo focuses on the following areas: adjustment to Staffing and Quality Measures, updating the CMS forms 671 and 672, and assigning the lowest turnover score possible to providers that fail to submit staffing data.