The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) has announced updates affecting long-term care facilities’ reporting through the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) system.

Beginning with the first week of reporting for 2024 quarter four, September 30 – October 6, NHSN users will report on a new definition of “up to date” for COVID vaccination and long-term care facilities will report on a new combined form for residents in the respiratory pathogens module.

New surveillance definition. Beginning September 30, individuals will be considered up to date with COVID vaccination if they have received the 2024-2025 updated COVID-19 vaccine. With this new definition, most individuals will not be up to date and long-term care facilities should report zero up to date until residents and staff receive the 2024-2025 vaccine. More information on surveillance definitions can be found here.

New combined resident form. In the Respiratory Pathogens module of the Long-Term Care Facilities component of NHSN, users will begin using a new combined resident reporting form beginning September 30. This new form will include vaccination, case, and hospitalization data for COVID, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). COVID vaccination, case, and hospitalization data are required reporting, while flu and RSV reporting remain optional at this time.

CDC will host three webinars covering these updates. The initial webinar will take place on September 24 and will be recorded. Replays of this webinar will be held on October 1 and October 9. NHSN users need only attend one. All webinars will be held at 1:00 p.m. ET. Register in advance for these webinars:

• Register for September 24 webinar.
• Register for October 1 webinar replay.
• Register for October 9 webinar replay.

LeadingAge notes that reporting requirements related to COVID cases and hospitalizations remain in flux at the moment. Set to expire on December 31, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed in the Calendar Year 2025 Home Health payment rule to make these requirements permanent and to expand requirements to include reporting on flu and RSV. The comment period on this proposed rule closed on August 26 and a final rule is expected in fall 2024.