Federal health regulators are expected to announce a new formal rule to mandate, among other things, weekly nursing home staff COVID-19 testing, part of the Trump administration's measures to protect vulnerable seniors.
The White House announced the new requirement on July 22 but the nursing home staff testing mandate won't begin until the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issues the formal rule. The mandate will be for nursing home staff in states struck hardest by the ongoing pandemic.
The testing mandate is part of the Trump administration's four-part strategy intended to provide greater protections to the nation's most vulnerable seniors and distribution of $5 billion to nursing homes that receive Medicare and Medicaid funds. That amount would be in addition to the $5 billion previously approved in skilled nursing centers, according to the White House announcement.
"We’re deploying every tool, resource and power at our disposal to protect seniors and Americans of every age and background," President Donald Trump said in the announcement.
To assist nursing homes to comply with the staff testing mandate, the Trump administration will provide more than 15,000 rapid point-of-care diagnostic devices and related tests. Nursing homes in COVID-19 hot spots will be the first to receive the devices and tests, according to the announcement.
"The administration will continue providing nursing homes and states with substantial technical assistance and training focused on infection control and best practices for nursing homes," the announcement said.
The CMS praised the Trump administration for the prioritization of "America’s most vulnerable citizens" during the ongoing pandemic. In a statement released the same day as the Trump administration's announcement, CMS referred to the administration's "unprecedented efforts."
"From the moment the threat of this virus materialized, the Trump administration has placed a priority on protecting nursing home residents," CMS Administrator Seema Verma said in the center's press release. "Today's multi-pronged intervention represents the latest efforts in fulfilling that unwavering commitment. As caseloads continue to increase in areas around the country, it has never been more important that nursing homes have what they need to maintain a sturdy defense against the virus. These measures will help them do exactly that."
Other measures announced by the White House include additional technical assistance and support, and weekly data on high-risk nursing homes.
