THE VALUED VOICE

The Wisconsin Division of Quality Assurance (DQA) sent an email this week to DQA-regulated facilities, including hospitals, regarding the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announcement that the Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 (PHE) will end on May 11, 2023. In its message, DQA notified hospitals and others that certain DQA memos creating flexibilities during the PHE will be obsolete effective May 11, 2023.
 
The DQA memos that will be obsolete include:
 

• 20-001 State Licensure Application for Temporary Expansion Locations during Public Health Emergency related to COVID-19
• 20-002 CMS 1135 Waiver Provisions – Wisconsin Hospitals
• 20-005 Guidance for Ambulatory Surgical Centers Temporarily Enrolling as a Hospital During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
• 20-008 State Licensure Application for Temporary Nursing Facility Expansion Units and Transfer Options during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

Regarding the CDC guidance for COVID-19, DQA wrote, “Facilities are encouraged to continue to follow CDC COVID-19 guidance. Recommendations for providers can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.”
 
DQA also refers regulated facilities to HHS guidance in response to the PHE ending May 11, including:
 

• Provider-specific fact sheets about COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) waivers and flexibilities
• Department of Health & Human Services Fact Sheet
• A copy of the message from DQA, which includes DQA staff contact information for questions