06/09/2022

No updates to CDC healthcare recommendations at this time

LeadingAge has been expecting updates to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for healthcare settings and personnel, impacting nursing homes, assisted living, hospice, and home health providers. LeadingAge is aware that some states may have received detailed information about these updates from their state public health authority. The CDC said last Friday that these updates are on hold at this time. Updates may not be released for a month or more and may look different at the time of release than what may have been previewed. With this in mind, providers are reminded of the following: 

• CDC recommends that healthcare settings, including nursing homes and assisted living, and healthcare personnel including hospice and home health, follow Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel.
• Nursing homes can also refer to CDC’s Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Spread in Nursing Homes for more specific information.
• The definition of “up to date” has changed with CDC’s strengthened recommendation that individuals aged 50 and older should receive a second booster. More information on what “up to date” looks like can be found on CDC’s Stay Up to Date page.

Nursing homes should continue to refer to CDC’s Community Transmission Rates for determining frequency of routine screening testing of asymptomatic staff and other mitigation measures.