Long-term and residential care facilities

Last updated March 3, 2023

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After approval from the Board of Health on Feb. 15, 2023, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is transferring the plan requirements for disease mitigation, vaccines, and treatment for certain licensed health care facilities and readiness requirements in Public Health Order 20-20 to Board of Health emergency rulemaking authority. As a result of this change, CDPHE rescinded Public Health Order 20-20 effective Feb. 22, 2023. While Board of Health emergency rules now require facilities to follow outbreak and mitigation guidance instead of a public health order, the content of the guidance itself has not changed. For additional information, read CDPHE’s press release.

Long-term and residential care facilities are key in preventing and controlling the transmission of COVID-19 among their residents and staff. This page includes links and resources for facilities to combat COVID-19.

Quick links

Facility guidance

Nursing Home and Intermediate Care Facility Mitigation and Outbreak Guidance
This guidance provides nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities licensed and/or certified by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) with recommendations to prevent and control the transmission of COVID-19 within the facility. Most of these facilities are also federally certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Board of Health emergency rules require facilities to follow this guidance.

Assisted Living Residences and Group Home Mitigation and Outbreak Guidance
This guidance is for assisted living residences and group homes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities that are not regulated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Board of Health emergency rules require facilities to follow this guidance.

Testing

If your facility needs to make changes to your testing courier schedule, reach out to the following contacts:

ATCG: cs@atcglab.com
Mako: COAssist@MakoMedical.com

Rapid Point of Care testing resources:

Point of Care (POC) Testing Supply Order Form - select “Bulk Binax” as your supply type.

CDPHE forms and checklists

Outbreak forms

Complete CDPHE’s online form to report an outbreak at your facility. If you are unable to access the online form, fill out the PDF outbreak form and email it to your cdphe_covid_infection_prevention@state.co.us.
COVID-19 line list templates | Español (Excel)

CDC guidance

CDC Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic.

CMS guidance

Interim Final Rule (IFC), CMS-3401-IFC, Long-Term Care (LTC) Facility Testing Requirements and Revised COVID-19 Focused Survey Tool.

Need assistance?

CDPHE hosts a bi-weekly virtual technical support meeting. Register for the support meeting at this link.
If you would like to sign up to receive occasional infection prevention updates, including our bi-weekly newsletter and slides following the technical support meeting, sign up to receive email notifications.
CDPHE’s call center is available to answer calls from facilities from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Call 303-692-2700 or email cdphe_covid_infection_prevention@state.co.us. After hours, call 303-370-9395.
Find your local public health agency.

Contacts

Infection Prevention Program - cdphe_covid_infection_prevention@state.co.us
- Email questions about:
  - Disease control and guidance.
  - Isolation.
  - Quarantine.
  - PPE use.
  - Infection prevention.
  - Outbreak line lists.
  - Reporting an outbreak.
  - COVID-19 vaccination, testing, and treatment.
  - Newsletters and calls.

CDPHE Project Firstline - cdphe_project_firstline@state.co.us
- Access to free infection prevention training resources.
- Infection prevention training support at your facility.
- Support for a CO.TRAIN account setup to complete the RCF Infection Prevention Program Training Plan.