January 6, 2025
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued a memorandum (QSO-25-11-NH) outlining new reporting requirements for long-term care (LTC) facilities. Effective January 1, 2025, LTC facilities must electronically report data on COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in a standardized format. This update follows the expiration of previous COVID-19-specific reporting requirements on December 31, 2024.
Acute Respiratory Illness Reporting Requirements: The LTC facility requirements for reporting COVID-19-related data expired on December 31, 2024, except for reporting COVID-19 resident and staff vaccination status. On November 1, 2024, CMS released the Calendar Year 2025 Home Health Prospective Payment System Rate Update. The rule broadens the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) reporting requirements for nursing homes. Beginning on January 1, 2025, LTC facilities must electronically report information about COVID-19, influenza, and RSV in a standardized format and frequency.
The NHSN Long-Term Care Facility COVID-19 Module is available and has been updated to include the new data elements that nursing homes must report. Facilities should immediately gain access to the NHSN system and visit the home page for important information, including how to register.
- Survey Process and Enforcement: CMS expects LTC facilities to comply with all facility requirements. Once guidance to LTC facility surveyors is released, these requirements will be incorporated into the survey process.
- Background: The new requirements replace the previous COVID-19 reporting standards and aim to enhance infection control and data collection in LTC facilities.
CMS emphasizes the importance of sustained data collection to help facilities effectively manage infection control needs.
For more information, read the full CMS memo: QSO-25-11-NH - Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
