New CMS Rule Requires LTC and ICFs-IID Facilities to Submit Weekly Vaccination Data

On May 11, 2021, CMS announced a new Interim Rule that will require Long-Term Care (LTC) facilities and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICFs-IID) to report weekly COVID-19 vaccination status data for both residents and staff. The report will be made to the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).  LTC facilities are already required to report COVID-19 testing, case, and mortality data to the NHSN for residents and staff but have not been required to report vaccination data.  As data becomes available, CMS will post facility-specific vaccination status information reported to the NHSN for viewing by facilities, stakeholders, and the public on the CMS COVID-19 Nursing Home Data website.  The effective date of the Interim Rule is May 21, 2021.