CMS posts updated COVID-19 positivity test rates

Mary MadisonClient News, Skilled Nursing2 Comments

CMS has posted the most recent data for positive COVID-19 test rates in U.S. counties.  The date of this posting is September 8, 2020 for the week ending September 2nd.  Providers should use this data set for staff testing going forward until the next updated data is posted by CMS – 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month.

Remember that this data is in an Excel file and it is color-coded:

  • Counties in green must test staff 1x each month
  • Counties in yellow must test staff 1x each week
  • Counties in red must test staff 2x each week

Below is a sampling of some counties in Alaska where you’ll see the color codes:

Find your county and test accordingly.  The color codes correlate to the community COVID-19 activity/positivity the previous week.  The following chart as well as other directives regarding staff testing are found in QSO-20-38-NH:


Want to keep up with the changing COVID-19 situation in skilled nursing?

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