1
This content does not meet HHS and OS accessibility standards. For immediate
assistance, please contact NHSN@cdc.gov
Guidance for Hospitals and Acute Care Facilities Reporting of
Respiratory Pathogen, Bed Capacity, and Supply Data to CDC’s
National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)
Updated: November 17, 2023
Implementation Date: November 26, 2023
[CHANGE] Note: For ease of navigation, all changes as of this November 17, 2023 guidance have been
highlighted with [CHANGE]. This guidance update reflects the addition of new data elements available
for optional reporting to CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) of information related to
laboratory-confirmed influenza and laboratory-confirmed respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection.
There are no additions of required data elements or changes to existing data elements as a result of this
guidance update. Information on reporting to NHSN can be found here:
https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/covid19/hospital-reporting.html.
Since March 29, 2020, the U.S. government has been collecting data from hospitals and states to
understand health care system stress, capacity, capabilities, and the number of patients hospitalized due to
COVID-19. As COVID-19 continues to evolve, Federal needs for data are also evolving. In an effort to
reduce burden while maximizing efficiency, the Federal government continues to evaluate data needs. All
data collected are driven by two core principles: 1) the data must drive action and/or 2) the data must
serve as a surveillance indicator for U.S. health care system stress, capacity, capability, and/or patient
safety. Significant consideration is also given to align with state, tribal, local, and territorial (STLT) needs
wherever possible and to minimize system changes and/or disruptions.
All hospitals have been required to report COVID-19 data daily to the Federal Government under the
CMS’ Conditions of Participation since September 2, 2020. Under the initial CMS Interim Final Rules
from 2020, the required reporting was scheduled to end at the conclusion of the COVID-19 Public Health
Emergency (PHE), which expired on May 11, 2023. On August 10, 2022, CMS finalized the annual IPPS
rule to amend the required reporting, which had several impacts for COVID-19 required reporting from
all hospitals:
• It extended reporting from the end of the current PHE through April 30, 2024, unless the
Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services establishes an earlier end-date.
• It indicated that the number of required data elements would be fewer after the end of the PHE.
• It indicated that reporting submission would not be daily after the end of the PHE.
[CHANGE] The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the public health threat of respiratory pathogens
and highlighted the need for comprehensive, real-time data for prevention and response purposes. In
addition to COVID-19, seasonal influenza and RSV can result in substantial burden on hospitals. For
those reason, following the expiration of the PHE in May 2023, and prior to the fall 2023 respiratory virus
season, optional collection of additional influenza data elements and new data elements capturing
information on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are now available for reporting as part of the COVID-19
hospital data collection through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s National