CMS issued guidance to psychiatric hospitals, Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTFs) and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICFs/IID) to improve their infection control and prevention practices, and in part, to reduce the use of seclusion and restraint as an infection control intervention. The guidance is intended to provide strategies for Medicare or Medicaid certified facilities to help address COVID-19 prevention, treatment and mitigation. The guidance includes FAQs covering the following topics:

– Promising practices, measurement, and mitigation strategies for infection control during the PHE

– Use of isolation, cohorting and PPE- Intervention, mitigation, and training strategies- Transition and discharge during the PHE

– Engaging family, caregiver, support personnel, and community resources

– Available local, State and Federal resource guides and web links