Nursing homes now have to report coronavirus cases to families and federal government [CNN]

Nursing homes are now mandated to report coronavirus cases within 12 hours of diagnosis to patients' families and the federal government.

Original article written by Tami Luhby

Updated April 20, 2020

Nursing homes are now mandated to report coronavirus cases to families and the federal government after backlash over a lack of transparency from facilities. Nursing homes now have to disclose COVID-19 cases to relatives within 12 hours of diagnosis and provide weekly updates. The CDC will also receive information from facilities regarding confirmed cases, suspected cases, hospital admissions, and deaths of staff members or patients, and then they will publish that data for the public to view.

Seema Verma, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, stated, "Nursing homes have been ground zero for COVID-19," describing this new reporting requirement as "critical" to monitoring and containing the virus' spread and reopening the country.

The CDC has already updated guidance to nursing homes regarding personal protective equipment and control measures to ensure that transmission is kept at minimum. Read more at https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/20/politics/nursing-homes-coronavirus-deaths-federal-government/index.html