CMS opens visitation to nursing homes after year of isolation
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 11, 2021
“Facilities should allow responsible indoor visitation at all times” — no matter the vaccination status of resident or visitor, the agency now says. Its action follows the remarkable, apparent...
NHSN reporting, infection control among top survey citations this year
By
Danielle Brown
Mar 05, 2021
Failure to report COVID-19 data to the National Health Safety Network (NHSN) and infection prevention & control deficiencies have been among the top survey citations for nursing home providers, according...
Essential caregiver programs proliferate, require careful balance of compliance and companionship considerations
By
Danielle Brown
Feb 26, 2021
Providers establishing essential caregiver programs will likely face a balancing act between complying with federal and state guidance and addressing resident isolation — issues that will continue as...
Time to allow visits: Vaccine success supports reopening in long-term care, advocates say
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 26, 2021
State and federal officials are being urged to ease visitation restrictions as COVID-19 vaccinations continue and cases fall among residents.
‘Balance has tipped’: It’s time to ease up on visitation regulations, nursing homes tell feds
By
Danielle Brown
Feb 25, 2021
Long-term care providers are calling on the federal government to remove regulations that base nursing home indoor visitations on COVID-19 positivity rates in the area now that vaccine coverage is widespread...
CMS: Visitation restrictions must remain; prepare for return of less-collaborative surveys
By
Danielle Brown
Feb 12, 2021
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is not ready to update nursing home visitation guidance, despite a significant drop in COVID-19 cases following widespread resident vaccinations, a top official...
Vaccine successes: LTC advocates share effective tools to increase inoculation confidence among staff
By
Danielle Brown
Jan 20, 2021
Vaccine educational activities have been a key strategy used by providers in order to ensure widespread uptake among their staff members, according to the nation’s top nursing home groups.
Nursing home reform likely coming under Biden, experts warn
By
Danielle Brown
Jan 13, 2021
Skilled nursing and other long-term care providers may need to prepare for major nursing home reform efforts, including increased penalties, under President-elect Joe Biden’s administration, according...
Industry leaders demand action on COVID relief proposals worth $2B for providers
By
Danielle Brown
Dec 16, 2020
The nation’s two largest nursing home associations are urging lawmakers to reach a deal on two COVID-19 relief bills that would provide $2 billion in overall aid to providers.
Most states choose long-term care to receive first COVID vaccinations, feds say
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 10, 2020
Although they are not obliged to do so, 36 states so far have told federal health officials that first doses should go to long-term care facilities, the COO of Operation Warp Speed said Wednesday.