On Wednesday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued new guidelines for nursing homes in an effort to stop the spread of coronavirus within centers.
The new guidelines were issued a day after NBC News reported that the Trump administration faced criticism for proposing a rollback of nursing home regulations.
Last year, the Trump administration moved to roll back nursing home regulations aimed at preventing infections from spreading. The decision faced heavy criticism for endangering the older people amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
So far, the coronavirus, aka COVID-19, has sickened 159 and killed 11 people in the United States. Among them, five deaths occurred at the Life Care Center nursing home near Seattle.
CMS Administrator Seema Verma announced with Vice President Mike Pence that the new guidelines aim to “focus on complying with new standards to keep our elderly safe.”
Last week, President Trump announced that Mike Pence would be leading the coronavirus task force.
According to new guidelines, 8,200 surveyors will be deployed to 15,000 nursing homes across the nation to make sure that the medical facilities are following strict infection control protocols.
The task force also advises nursing homes to question their staff and visitors about their recent visits to countries hit by COVID-19. Nursing homes should also ask them whether they have experienced or experiencing any respiratory symptoms.
The new guidelines also explain how to transfer patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 from nursing homes to hospitals.
CMS will be sending an infection prevention specialist to the Atlanta headquarters of the CDC to help with real-time in guidance development.
The American Health Care Association said it was “pleased the administration is stepping up to help us in this cause.” It said the new guidelines “place a greater emphasis on infection control,” which will allow medical workers to “better protect residents and employees.”
After announcing the new guidelines, Verma tweeted, “Today’s actions from CMS are focused on protecting American patients & residents by ensuring #healthcare facilities have up-to-date information to adequately respond to #COVID19 concerns, while reminding providers they will be held accountable for infection control standards.”
