NHSN Offers Optional Flu/RSV Reporting for Nursing Homes

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated the Long Term Care Facility (LTCF) COVID-19 Module and renamed it the LTCF COVID-19/Respiratory Pathogens Module. The changes went into effect Oct. 23, 2023 and now provide nursing homes the option to report influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccinations and cases when reporting mandatory COVID-19 data on a weekly basis to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). The CDC has posted a set of educational slides from a September webinar that provide an overview of the optional data collection forms along with reporting tips here. Note that while the CDC encourages facilities to report flu and RSV data when reporting COVID-19 data, this reporting remains optional and does not impact the mandatory weekly COVID-19 reporting requirements. The NHSN LTCF reporting page with forms and instructions for the LTCF COVID-19/Respiratory Pathogens Module is here.

Contact: Darius Kirstein, dkirstein@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8841