On Thursday, September 17 the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released new visitation guidance for nursing homes. CMS Memo QSO-20-39-NH directs state survey agency directors to lift visitation restrictions that were previously issued in March and encourage nursing facilities find reasonable ways to safely facilitate in-person visitation to address the psychosocial needs of residents. The new guidance prioritizes outdoor visitation and adherence to the core principles of COVID-19 infection prevention. Facilities should accommodate and support indoor visitation under a set of safety guidelines and based on the level of COVID-19 risk in the county.
