NH-21-13 Nursing Home COVID-19 Testing Requirements
The NYSDOH has released the attached DAL which modifies the nursing home staff testing requirements. Effective immediately, operators and administrators of all nursing homes are required to test or arrange for the routine testing for COVID-19 of all personnel who have not been fully vaccinated, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including employees, contract staff, medical staff, operators and administrators, for COVID-19 twice per week, consistent with the updated April 27, 2021 CMS rule which stated “vaccinated staff do not need to be routinely tested.” Fully vaccinated personnel will no longer require routine twice-weekly testing. To facilitate ongoing testing of nursing home staff in New York State who are not fully vaccinated, the Department will continue distributing Abbott BinaxNow COVID-19 antigen tests directly to nursing homes. These tests are to be used to perform a second weekly test of all unvaccinated staff. For additional information on SARS-CoV-2 Point of Care (POC) Antigen Tests please refer to the recently updated Frequently Asked Questions for Health Care Providers about Antigen Testing. NYSHFA/NYSCAL CONTACTS: Lisa Volk, RN, B.P.S., LNHA Director, Clinical & Quality Services 518-462-4800 x15Read More
