Visitation
Individuals are encouraged to visit loved ones in nursing homes or adult care facilities.
New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) is fully aligned with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Nursing Home Visitation - COVID-19 (REVISED) regarding nursing home COVID-19 screening and visitor testing. Specifically, nursing homes are no longer required to verify that visitors have a negative COVID-19 test before entry or conduct active COVID-19 screening.
The Department recommends that facilities continue to conduct passive screening, including instructional signage throughout the facility and proper visitor education on COVID-19 signs and symptoms, infection control precautions, and other applicable facility practices (e.g., use of face covering or mask; specified entries, exits and routes to designated areas; and hand hygiene).
Facilities that choose to continue visitor testing and/or active screening may do so at their discretion. Active screening refers to requiring anyone entering the facility to complete a symptom screening questionnaire or an in-person interview and/or have their temperature taken before being allowed entry into the facility.
Vaccinations
Nursing homes and adult care facilities must facilitate vaccinations for all residents. All new nursing home residents and residents readmitted to the facility must have an opportunity to receive the first or any required next dose of the COVID-19 vaccine within 14 days of having been admitted or readmitted to such facility, as applicable. For all adult care facility residents, within seven days of admission or readmission, the facility shall make diligent efforts to schedule all consenting and eligible new or readmitted residents for the COVID-19 vaccination.
Long-term care facilities are expected to adhere to the infection prevention and control standards, quarantine requirements, and testing standards set forth by CMS and CDC.
Guidance
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Update: Nursing Home Visitor Testing and Screening for COVID-19
March 17, 2023: The purpose of this health advisory is to announce that NYSDOH is fully aligning with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding nursing home COVID-19 screening and visitor testing.
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Use of Face Masks and Face Coverings in Healthcare Facilities
February 10, 2023 - Guidance for use of face masks and face coverings in healthcare settings including hospitals, nursing homes, home healthcare and hospice agencies, diagnostic and treatment centers, physician offices, dental offices, local health departments, and office-based surgery practices
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Adult Care Facilities: Infection Prevention & Control Recommendations Revised Advisory
Updated December 23, 2022 - Revised information on the infection prevention and control recommendations that Adult Care Facilities in NYS should follow during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Nursing Home Testing, Cohorting and Visitation Guidance
October 13, 2022 - The purpose of this health advisory is to provide nursing homes with updated information on masking, cohorting, visitation and nursing home staff and resident testing requirements
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DAL NH 22-13 COVID-19 Vaccination and Booster Doses
April 5, 2022 - Alerting nursing home providers that the NYSDOH has identified an increase in COVID-19 cases among nursing home residents and staff and the need to remain vigilant with maintaining infection prevention and control measures is critical to ensuring the highest level of health and safety.
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Guidance for Transportation Managers and Brokers (MLTC)
Updated September 14, 2021 - This guidance overrides the transportation section in the previously released guidance on Medical Modal Adult Day Health Care Program.
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Notification: Hospital Executive Officer and Nursing Home Administrators
July 2, 2021 - Executive Order 202.30, as modified, which required Article 28 general hospitals to obtain a negative COVID-19 test result prior to discharge to a nursing home, as well as Dear Administrator Letters ACF #20-14 and NH #20-07, dated May 11, 2020, which extended this requirement to test patients prior to discharge to an adult care facility, have now expired.
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Salon Services in Adult Care Facilities
Adult Care Facilities (ACFs) and Nursing Homes (NH) may resume in-house salon services, provided that the facility is able to adhere to all local, state, and federal requirements as applicable, relative to hair salons and barbershops.
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In-Service Requirements for Personal Care Aides and Home Health Aides
This guidance is intended for Certified Home Health Agencies (CHHAs), Long Term Home Health Care Programs (LTHHCPs), AIDS home care programs, Hospices and Licensed Home Care Services Agencies (LHCSAs).
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DAL NH-21-16 Nursing Home Construction/Renovation Requirements
This advisory is to inform nursing home operators of current allowances regarding the resumption of construction/renovation projects at nursing home facilities.
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