CMS expires multiple public health QSO and S&C letters

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has expired several Quality, Safety and Oversight (QSO), and Survey and Certification (S&C) letters that were issued during the COVID-19 pandemic public health emergency (PHE).

Some of the letters impact the health care physical environment, including:

• QSO-25-23. Provided focused infection control surveys during the PHE.
• QSO-20-41-All. Provided guidance related to emergency preparedness exercise exemption.
• QSO-22-15-NH/NLTC/LS. Provided an update to the COVID-19 declared blanket waivers for specific providers.
• S&C-17-30-H/CAHS/NHS. Required the reduction of Legionella risk in health care facilities water systems to prevent cases and outbreaks of Legionella disease. It should be noted that this specific S&C letter was superseded by QSO-17-30-H/CAHS/NHS that remains in effect today.
• S&C-14-25-NH. Allowed single-use devices to be reprocessed.

For additional information visit the CMS Policy & Memos webpage.