The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in memo QSO-25-23-ALL released July 30, announced that Focused Infection Control surveys will no longer be a part of the long-term care survey process.

Implemented during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), these focused surveys were continued on a reduced scale after the PHE expired in May 2023.

The July 30 memo clarified that any COVID-19 or infection control concerns will now be investigated through the complaint survey process rather than as part of the standard survey.

Read the memo here.