CMS COVID-19 Infection Control for Psychiatric and ICFs/IID

On December 17, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a memo (QSO-21-07-Psych Hospital, PRTF & ICF/IID) impacting psychiatric hospitals, Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTFs) and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICFs/IID).  CMS noted in the summary of the memo that the Agency is “committed to taking critical steps to protect all Americans including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities to ensure America’s health care facilities are prepared to respond to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency (PHE).  CMS is providing guidance to these providers to improve their infection control and prevention practices, in part, to prevent or lessen the need for use of seclusion and restraint as an infection control intervention. 

All Psychiatric hospitals, PRTFs and ICF/IIDs should monitor the CDC website for information and resources, and contact the local health department, when necessary (CDC Resources for Health Care Facilities: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019- ncov/healthcare-facilities/index.html).”  You can read the full memo here.