In August of this year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services published revisions to the Conditions of Participation for hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Hospitals and CAHs must electronically report data related to acute respiratory illnesses, including SARS-CoV2/COVID-19, influenza, and RSV, including confirmed infections of respiratory illnesses among hospitalized patients, hospital bed census and capacity (both overall and by hospital setting and population group [adult or pediatric]), and limited patient demographic information, including age. Beginning November 1, 2024, hospitals and CAHs must electronically report this information to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) or CDC-supported system. The CDC has posted instructions for Reporting Requirements, Frequency, and Pathway as well as data import templates, training slides, and additional resources. This rule also finalized requirements that during a declared national, state, or local public health emergency for an acute infectious illness, the hospital and CAH must also electronically report data elements including facility structure and infrastructure operational status including hospital/emergency department diversion status, staffing shortages, supply inventory shortages (for example, equipment, blood products, gases), and relevant medical countermeasures and therapeutics (or both).
