Point-of-Care Test Result Reporting Update
Reporting requirements for COVID-19 point-of-care (POC) test results are undergoing some changes at the state and federal levels. As previously reported, nursing homes are required to report COVID-19 POC test results via both the State's Electronic Clinical Laboratory Reporting System (ECLRS) and the federal National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will be holding webinars on Nov. 12th at 3 p.m. and Nov. 13th at 12 p.m. to train nursing homes on NHSN result reporting. Advance registration is required. More information about the webinar is available here under "Upcoming Webinars." The slides from the webinar are available here, and recordings should be posted soon.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has indicated that they will exercise enforcement flexibility until Nov. 20, 2020 for those nursing homes that can show that they have made a good faith attempt to acquire the necessary security upgrade to report results through NHSN. This process can take up to four weeks, so facilities that have not yet completed or initiated security enhancement should email NHSN immediately to begin this process. More information is available from LeadingAge National here.
At the state level, the deadline for reporting POC test results for COVID-19 and flu has been extended from 3 hours to 24 hours pursuant to Executive Order 202.72. Nursing homes must report results through both ECLRS and NHSN. Adult care facilities are required to report only through ECLRS. LeadingAge NY and LeadingAge National are working to eliminate the duplicative reporting requirements.
Contact: Karen Lipson, klipson@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8838