CMS has created an independent commission to make recommendations for responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in nursing homes.
The commission will include clinicians, resident/patient advocates, medical ethicists, administrators, infection control and prevention professionals as well as state and local authorities, among others. It is expected to convene later this month and develop recommendations in three key areas:
● Protecting nursing home residents from COVID-19 and improving the responsiveness of care delivery
● Strengthening efforts to identify and curb COVID-19 transmission in nursing homes
● Enhancing strategies to improve infection control compliance in response to COVID-19
The panel also will focus on finding new ways to use nursing home data to allow for better coordination between federal surveyors, state and local entities and nursing homes.