In May 2022, CMS sent out information to providers regarding exemptions to CMS emergency preparedness testing exercise requirements during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). Some agencies have been running their organization on their emergency preparedness plan since the PHE was declared. Other agencies have reactivated their emergency preparedness plan due to an increase of COVID cases in their surrounding area. While some agencies have resumed normal operating status.
The PHE was declared on March 13, 2020, due to the pandemic. As a result of the PHE CMS granted many waivers to ease certain requirements for providers. Now CMS is ending many of the waivers and has issued a memo QSO-20-41-ALL regarding additional guidance and clarification on the revisions to the emergency preparedness testing exercise requirements.
Revisions apply only to home health and hospice agencies still operating under their activated COVID emergency plan or home health and hospice agencies who have reactivated their emergency plan in 2021 or 2022.
If your agency has resumed normal operating status you are required to conduct testing exercises based on the regulatory requirements for their setting.
Click below to read the CMS revisions.
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