Long term care facilities can track weekly COVID-19 vaccination data for health care personnel (HCP) and residents through the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). The modules are located under the Long-Term Care Facilities section titled Surveillance for HCP & Resident COVID-19 Vaccination. This reporting is important for three key reasons—including a proposed CMS regulation requiring reporting later this year.

1. It provides facilities the ability to effectively track their own uptake rates, which now links to CMS’ revised visitation guidance.
2. It is important to provide this information to the CDC so it can track the effectiveness of the vaccines in long term care, which is necessary for any further easing of restrictions, such as testing or PPE.
3. Finally, CMS has proposed that skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) report vaccination data for their HCP through NHSN beginning October 1, 2021.

Read the full text from the CMS announcement related to the proposed mandatory reporting, which is included in the fiscal year (FY) 2022 SNF prospective payment system proposed rule:

COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage among Healthcare Personnel (HCP) Measure

CMS is proposing the adoption of the COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage among Healthcare Personnel (HCP) Measure beginning with the FY 2023 SNF QRP.  This measure would require SNFs to report on COVID-19 HCP vaccination in order to assess whether SNFs are taking steps to limit the spread of COVID-19 among their HCP, reduce the risk of transmission within their facilities and help sustain the ability of SNFs to continue serving their communities throughout the COVID-19 PHE and beyond. Under this proposal, SNFs would report the vaccination data through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Healthcare Safety Network beginning October 1, 2021.