Facilities with one or more coronavirus infections should be identified publicly, a pair of federal lawmakers assert in a letter to the leaders of CMS and the CDC.
Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) are calling on the federal government to list every nursing home that has had a resident or staff member test positive for COVID-19.
Frustration was expressed last week when CMS Administrator Seema Verma said fewer than 190 nursing homes had experienced infected individuals while just a few days later an NBC report quoted CDC officials as saying the number was already 400 or more.
The senators argued the names of the facilities should be made public in order to prevent further spread of the disease. They’re also seeking information about what information nursing facilities are required to provide to the agencies when an individual tests positive for COVID-19, how often the CDC receives testing and results data from states and what steps the agencies take to inform the public and other providers on locations with a positive case.
“Importantly, CMS and CDC must convey this information in a manner that is easily accessible to nursing home residents, families and the community, and it should be accompanied by useful resources and information for affected individuals,” they wrote.
The lawmakers asked for a response from the agencies by April 16.
