Feds restart regular survey inspections at nursing homes
By
Danielle Brown
Aug 18, 2020
Regular surveys are resuming for long-term providers after being suspended for nearly five months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The solution to nursing homes’ COVID-19 testing shortages
By
James M. Berklan
Aug 14, 2020
Fret no more. I’ve figured out how to get plenty of COVID-19 testing to take place at nursing homes. The federal government may have wished for more testing of residents and workers, but my plan has...
Skilled nursing facilities face enforcement challenges in COVID-19 environment
By
Jon Ferry
Aug 12, 2020
Skilled nursing facilities have faced unprecedented challenges since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Individuals with many high-risk characteristics are the typical patients of these facilities....
Lawmaker calls for ‘science’ as guide to VA COVID-19 care after controversial experimental drug use
By
Danielle Brown
Aug 11, 2020
A U.S. congresswoman is seeking answers from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ following a state-run center’s decision to prescribe a controversial drug to nursing home residents battling COVID-19.
Following record 2Q earnings, Ensign Group returns $110M in CARES Act funding
By
Danielle Brown
Aug 07, 2020
The Ensign Group has returned about $110 million in federal coronavirus relief funding after experiencing another quarter of “record-breaking results,” executives reported Thursday.
BREAKING: Nursing homes to receive 2.2% Medicare pay raise for 2021
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 31, 2020
Nursing homes will receive a Medicare pay boost for fiscal 2021, federal officials announced today.
Feds to reimburse providers for counseling patients to self-isolate
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 31, 2020
Existing E/M codes can be used to bill for counseling patients about virus mitigation at the time of COVID-19 testing, according to CMS and the CDC.
Proposal would require HHS to create nursing home strike teams for infection control
By
Danielle Brown
Jul 29, 2020
The Department of Health and Human Services would have to develop strike teams that would help nursing homes test residents for COVID-19 and assist with infection control practices under the GOP’s newly...
Tips for successful telehealth services implementation in SNFs
By
Jennifer Birdsall
Jul 28, 2020
At CHE Behavioral Health Services, a nationwide organization providing behavioral health services to patients in skilled nursing facilities and now to the general community, we had to work quickly to provide...
Advice from LTC pros who have been through COVID-19
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Jul 28, 2020
Here is some advice from staff members of New York City nursing homes hit early in the pandemic.