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How Do They Calculate County Transmission?

In the recent CMS QSO-20-38 federally licensed providers are now required to conduct routine testing of all non ‘up-to date' staff persons at a frequency based on community transmission. The community transmission rates are based on a two factor metric by the county with which you are located. These two factors include:
  1. Total number of new cases per 100,000 persons within the last 7 days and
  2. Percentage of positive diagnostic and screening nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) during the last 7 days.

Once calculated the county is then placed in a color coded risk level based on the determined transmission measure.
To determine transmission risk the two indicators are viewed and compared. When one of the indicators suggest different transmission levels, the higher level is selected.

For example:

                                                               
According to the CDC, the county transmission rates will be updated after review and verification, usually before 8:00 pm ET. Updates will occur the following day when reporting coincides with a federal holiday.

Staff Contact: dwatford@mehca.org

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