VDH recommends that long term care facility (LTCF) partners review reminders about required COVID-19 reporting. This document, dated March 7, 2022, includes details on required reporting for point-of-care testing for assisted living facilities (ALFs), as well as nursing facilities.

VHCA-VCAL recommends you read the document in its entirety. This is the language for ALFs.

Assisted Living Facilities and other LTCFs conducting POC Testing

Reporting requirements

• On January 8, 2021, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services updated their Reporting Guidance for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Additionally, on January 8th, CMS released a memo with this update.
• You are required to obtain a CLIA certificate if you are conducting diagnostic tests for COVID-19. If you are conducting COVID-19 diagnostic testing, you are required to report both the positive and negative results of COVID-19 diagnostic and screening tests. This includes data for all diagnostic and screening testing completed, which includes molecular, antigen, and antibody testing for each individual tested. Individual POC test results (positive and negative) must be reported daily, within 24 hours of test completion. Failure to report may result in enforcement action.
• Facilities that perform POC testing are required to report results for all POC testing that is performed within the facility (residents, staff, visitors).

How to report

• ALFs and other LTCFs should report POC test results to the VDH Portal.
• Note ALFs can voluntarily report into NHSN; they would need to gain access via CDC (see instructions above).
• Facilities with both nursing home and assisted living components can either:
• Report data for nursing home component to NHSN and ALF component to VDH POC portal OR
• Facility can work with CDC to set-up ALF as a facility in NHSN; facility can then report both nursing home and ALF data into NHSN (likely under different facility numbers)

Penalties for failing to report

• If a facility holds a CLIA certificate and performs COVID-19 testing, they would be held accountable to all reporting requirements, including the CLIA requirement for reporting.