Trump Administration to Require Nursing Homes to Report Coronavirus Cases to Families of Residents; Move Comes After Meng Called on President to Make the New Rule Happen

April 20, 2020
Press Release

President to also use Defense Production Act to increase COVID-19 testing following Congresswoman’s request to do so

QUEENS, NY – After calling on the President to ensure that nursing homes immediately report coronavirus infections and deaths to the families of residents, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) announced today that the Trump administration has agreed to implement such a requirement.
On Saturday, Meng sent a letterto the President calling for family members of nursing home residents to be swiftly notified of any COVID-19 cases, and last night, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announcedthat it will put the requirement into place.
The President also said yesterday he would use the Defense Production Act (DPA) to boost the manufacturing of swabs that are needed to increase COVID-19 testing. Meng has consistently urged the President to use the DPA to ramp up testing, including in the letter she sent to the President on Saturday.
"These developments with nursing homes and the Defense Production Act are vital," said Meng. "Telling nursing homes that they must make families aware of COVID-19 cases is something that has been urgently needed, and I'm pleased that the Trump administration will be moving forward with its new rule following my request to the President. Family members of nursing home residents have a right to know this information. It will help ensure that they can do everything possible to protect their loved ones, and it will go a long way towards controlling and preventing the spread of the illness. We must do all we can to safeguard the health and safety of our elderly population."
"I am also pleased that the President, as I have implored him to do, will use the Defense Production Act to increase testing," added Meng. "We need the DPA desperately in our fight against COVID-19. President Trump's decision to invoke it for coronavirus tests is welcome news but it should have been done weeks ago. The President must now follow through to make sure this actually happens, and I will watch closely to ensure that it does."
Under the new order from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, nursing homes must inform the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), residents, and their loved ones-representatives within 12 hours.