CMS: ‘Won’t be long’ until more vaccination guidance is issued
By
Danielle Brown
Nov 24, 2021
Nursing home and other providers can expect follow-up guidance on the federal government’s healthcare worker COVID-19 vaccination rule, including clarification on surveyor compliance, in “a week or...
COVID-19 vaccine mandate for surveyors? CMS clarifies
By
Danielle Brown
Nov 09, 2021
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services plans on issuing COVID-19 vaccination guidance covering surveyors charged with inspecting nursing homes, an agency spokesperson confirmed.
Current COVID-19 testing requirements and costs ‘unsustainable,’ LTC operator warns
By
Danielle Brown
Sep 10, 2020
Even with additional testing resources from the federal government, nursing home operators say current costs combined with new surveillance requirements are unsustainable.
COVID vaccine mandate will survive legal challenges, experts believe
By
Kimberly Marselas
Danielle Brown
Nov 10, 2021
The Biden administration is confident that legal challenges to its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers will ultimately fail, and legal experts are largely in agreement. As a result, they are...
Coronavirus pandemic declared; masks OK’d in light of equipment shortage
By
Danielle Brown
Mar 12, 2020
The World Health Organization officially declared the coronavirus as a pandemic Wednesday, with the reported number of cases passing 118,000 worldwide, along with 4,200 deaths. The United States has reported...
SNF occupancy ticks up but is ‘dangerously’ low and threatens long-term survival
By
Danielle Brown
Dec 03, 2020
A slight increase in skilled nursing occupancy between the second and third quarters wasn’t enough to alleviate the financial uncertainty facing the industry as a result of the ongoing public health...
Judge denies injunction against healthcare worker vaccine mandate
By
Danielle Brown
Nov 23, 2021
The federal government’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate for healthcare workers has survived its first legal challenge, with a federal judge rejecting Florida’s bid to put a temporary restraining order...
Average skilled nursing resident with COVID took more than 3 weeks to overcome disease
By
Danielle Brown
Jul 19, 2021
Most nursing home residents with COVID-19 were symptomatic for more than three weeks, which prolonged their recovery from the disease, according to a new study conducted by Indiana University researchers.
Mandated COVID-19 testing for surveyors, ombudsmen ‘under active consideration’: HHS official
By
Danielle Brown
Oct 06, 2020
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service is currently investigating whether it should require surveyors and ombudsmen to be subject to similar COVID-19 testing mandates as nursing home workers, a top...
NHSN changes definition of ‘up to date’ for COVID shots
By
Danielle Brown
Jun 21, 2022
The National Healthcare Safety Network has modified its definition of “up to date” for long-term care facilities submitting their COVID-19 data to the system. Now it includes a booster shot.