CMS Administrator Seema Verma made two key announcements on November 12 about surveyor calls to nursing homes with COVID-19 cases and staffing and PPE shortages, as well as the list of facilities that have completed the QIO training.

According to Verma:

1. 1. CMS or state surveyors will be calling nursing homes who report new cases of COVID and/or report shortages of PPE and/or staffing to offer assistance. They will ask several questions to see how they can help the facility acquire resources such as staffing, PPE, or testing supplies.

AHCA has heard that these questions may be similar to: 

• • Do you have enough PPE in the facility for one week? 
  • Do you have enough staff in the facility to care for residents in proper cohort sections? 
  • What percentage of your staff completed the CMS/CDC training online? 
  • What is the frequency of resident/staff testing currently? 
  • How did your outbreak occur (staff, residents, visitor, vendor, other)? 
  • What is the availability of test kits? For all residents/all staff? How long will they last?

If you receive one of these calls, please let AHCA know your experience, including any resulting assistance, by emailing COVID19@ahca.org. 

1. 2. CMS will be publishing a list of facilities which have completed the CMS 3 to 4 hour QIO trainings. Follow the “Select here” link for instructions on how to access the Targeted COVID-19 Training for Nursing Homes.