Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of COVID-19 in Hospitals, Psychiatric Hospitals, and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs): FAQs, Considerations for Patient Triage, Placement, Limits to Visitation and Availability of 1135 waivers.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is committed to taking critical steps to ensure America’s health care facilities and clinical laboratories are prepared to respond to the threat of the COVID-19. • Coordination with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and local public health departments - We encourage all hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, and CAHs to monitor the CDC website for information and resources and contact their local health department when needed (CDC Resources for Health Care Facilities: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/healthcare-facilities/index.html). • Hospital/CAH Guidance and Actions - CMS regulations and guidance support hospitals and CAHs taking appropriate action to address potential and confirmed COVID-19 cases to mitigate transmission and prepare for community spread transmission, including screening, discharge and transfers from the hospital, mitigation of staffing crises, and visitation. • Hospital/CAH Flexibilities – Under Section 1135 of the Social Security Act (Act), CMS has waived a number of hospital/CAH requirements following the President’s declaration of a national state of emergency and the Secretary’s declaration of a Public Health Emergency to facilitate increasing hospital capacity, establishing alternate care sites, and removing administrative burdens.