States push CMS to repeal COVID-19 vaccine mandate
By
Kimberly Marselas
Lois A. Bowers
Nov 18, 2022
A coalition of 22 states is taking a new angle in its attempts to overturn a national mandate requiring that healthcare workers be vaccinated against COVID-19: They’re simply asking federal regulators...
In major win for insurer, court rules Genesis must absorb costs of multiple COVID suits
By
Kimberly Marselas
Nov 21, 2022
Genesis Healthcare could be on the hook for millions of dollars in potential COVID-19 settlements, following a federal judge’s decision that the skilled nursing giant’s insurer does not have to cover...
BREAKING: CMS says all healthcare staff must be fully vaccinated by Jan. 4
By
Danielle Brown
Nov 04, 2021
Long-term care staff must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Jan. 4 under a new healthcare worker vaccination rule released early Thursday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Tracing tools aim to reduce spread of COVID-19, meet regulations
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jun 24, 2020
Five organizations that serve long-term care facilities have teamed up to create Tracking-19, a free resource that helps nursing homes manage the exponential increase in the number of COVID-19-related...
HHS slow rolling long-term care on remaining Provider Relief Funds; industry demands action
By
Danielle Brown
Jul 14, 2021
Long-term care stakeholders are growing increasingly frustrated while waiting for the remaining billions of dollars in the Provider Relief Fund to be distributed by the federal government.
Operators might get more time to spend Provider Relief Funding
By
Danielle Brown
May 13, 2021
Long-term care providers are hopeful for a much sought after extension to the spending deadline for Provider Relief Funds following comments from a top federal health official on Wednesday.
After another record quarter, Ensign approaches pre-pandemic occupancy
By
Danielle Brown
Feb 05, 2021
Taking on COVID-19 patients and others with medically complex conditions has helped The Ensign Group buck trends in the industry and begin to stabilize occupancy, executives said as they reported another...
OSHA accepting new comments on healthcare worker COVID-19 protection rule
By
Lois A. Bowers
Mar 23, 2022
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is accepting additional comments as it establishes a final rule meant to protect long-term care workers and other healthcare providers from exposure to...
How QIOs, strike teams helped in COVID-19 trenches with majority of nursing homes
By
Kimberly Marselas
Mar 04, 2021
Federal strike teams and quality improvement contractors, acting in expanded roles, helped reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection by guiding interventions at more than half of all U.S. nursing homes, said...
Compliance with CMS guidance could cost providers $10K more per day
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 07, 2020
Nursing homes could be forced to spend an additional $10,000 per day on equipment in order to meet the latest federal requirements during the COVID-19 response, according to experts.