Per the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System (PPS) final rule, nursing homes must now report influenza vaccination rates among healthcare personnel for the SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP). Nursing homes are required to submit at least one report to capture flu vaccination coverage among all staff working in the nursing home at least one day during the flu season, defined as October 1 – March 31. Nursing homes have 45 days after the end of flu season to report data.

Data must be reported through the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) system in the Healthcare Personnel Safety (HPS) component. Data reported through the Long-Term Care Facility component will not satisfy SNF QRP requirements. Providers must first activate the HPS component prior to submitting data. Only the individual designated as “Facility Administrator” in the NHSN system can activate the HPS component.

Information on how to activate the HPS component is available here. If the person designated as Facility Administrator is no longer with your nursing home, a new Facility Administrator must be designated within NHSN prior to activating the HPS component. Information on updating your Facility Administrator is available here.

Recalling that flu vaccination data must be submitted by May 15, nursing homes should get started now. Re-assign the Facility Administrator if needed, activate the HPS component, and log in to review the specific information to be collected for data submission. Operational guidance is provided by CDC / NHSN here.