NHSN Changes to LTC Reporting Requirements for Acute Respiratory Illnesses

(Dec. 17, 2024) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) hosted a webinar on Dec. 11, 2024 regarding changes to long term care providers' National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) reporting requirements for acute respiratory illnesses. The webinar highlighted changes to the definition of up-to-date status as well as reporting requirements for health care personnel (HCP) COVID-19 vaccination status.

To be up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, the new definition for Quarter 1 of 2025 is as follows:

1. Individuals aged 65 years and older and those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised are up to date when they have:
   1. Received two doses of the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine; or
   2. Received one dose of the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine in the past six months. These individuals will not be considered up to date after six months, unless they receive a second dose following the six-month mark. For example, an individual who received a vaccine in October 2024 would need a second dose in April 2025 to be up to date. 
2. Individuals younger than 65 years of age are up to date when they have:
   1. Received one dose of the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine.

There are also changes to skilled nursing facility (SNF) reporting for HCP. COVID-19 vaccination data for HCP needs to be reported one week per month. The facility can choose which week they report this data. Please note that there is no change to reporting resident vaccination status for COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). This data will continue to be reported on a weekly basis.

In addition, there will be changes to the NHSN reporting form which will be available on the CDC website in the next couple of weeks. These changes will be in effect starting the week of Jan. 6, 2025 through Jan. 12, 2025.

A recording of the webinar will be posted to the CDC website in the coming days for nursing homes to view. LeadingAge NY will alert members when it becomes available. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to any member of the Policy team. 

Contact: Amy Nelson, anelson@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8383 ext. 146