US Government Requires Nursing Home Coronavirus Testing

In reaction to the massive number of COVID-19 disease fatalities reported by 'nursing homes in the USA, the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on August 26, 2020, sweeping regulatory changes that require nursing homes to test staff and offer testing to residents for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. The new CMS rules also require hospitals to provide COVID-19 cases and related data to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Facilities that do not comply with the new CMS requirements may face enforcement sanctions, such as civil money penalties in excess of $400 per day, or over $8,000 for an instance of noncompliance.