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Specialized Information for:
Long-Term Care ConsumersFamily MembersAdvocates
Menu
Shop
Specialized Information for:
Long-Term Care ConsumersFamily MembersAdvocates
April 14, 2020
On April 13, 2020, CMS issued supplemental information for transferring and discharging residents between facilities based on their COVID-19 status. CMS provided this information in response to questions regarding its April 2, 2020 memo that included guidance on separating residents.
This latest memo discusses three scenarios:
If two or more certified LTC facilities transfer or discharge residents between themselves in order to group residents by their COVID-19 status, they can do so under the Blanket Transfer Waiver (see COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers for Health Care Providers), without any approval from their State Survey Agency.
If a certified LTC facility transfers or discharges residents to a non-certified location for cohorting purposes, the State Survey Agency must approve the location. In this case, the residents must be cared for by the LTC facility staff.
If COVID-19 positive residents are transferred to a Federal or State run facility staffed with Federal or State personnel, no waiver is necessary as long as the transfer is not inconsistent with the state’s emergency preparedness or pandemic plan or as directed by the local or state health department.