FDA no longer requires positive COVID-19 test to prescribe Paxlovid, Lagevrio
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 01, 2023
The FDA on Wednesday made it easier for clinicians to prescribe these antiviral drugs in cases where transmission is evident and the patient is at high risk of severe illness.
Analysis: Medication adherence spotty among U.S. diabetes patients
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 01, 2023
A sizable percentage of patients with diabetes do not consistently take prescribed medications to lower cholesterol, glucose or blood pressure, investigators say.
‘Unwitting’ senior living and care providers swept up in $114 million fake nursing degree scheme
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Jan 30, 2023
Skilled nursing facilities, an assisted living community and home health providers were among many businesses across the country duped into hiring more than 7,600 nurses with fake credentials, according...
New data: With no booster, nursing home residents face 30 percent higher COVID risk
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 29, 2023
Nursing home residents who have received the COVID-19 bivalent booster shot are 30% to 50% less likely to become infected with SARS-CoV-2 than their fellow residents who haven’t gotten boosted, the...
FDA advisers endorse bivalent vaccine for all COVID mRNA shots
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 27, 2023
A panel of experts on Thursday agreed that the bivalent COVID-19 vaccines should be used as both initial and booster shots, phasing out the original vaccines.
Pandemic disrupted dementia care, increased antipsychotic prescriptions: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 26, 2023
Clinicians relied on these drugs to address behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia during the pandemic. Experts are calling for a new approach to assessing treatment needs.
VA’s narrative medicine program improves senior patient care, docs’ study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 25, 2023
Physicians said that the practice of narrative medicine changed how they framed patient decisions and helped them to guide seniors toward appropriate care.
FDA proposes two annual COVID shots for seniors in ‘simplified’ vaccine schedule
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 24, 2023
In an effort to streamline COVID-19 protection, older adults and others vulnerable to severe disease would receive two annual shots of an updated vaccine, according to a plan to be evaluated on Thursday...
Also in the News for Friday, Jan. 20
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jan 20, 2023
Latest AHCA report projects skilled nursing labor recovery stalled until 2027… Report: Amid lackluster COVID vaccination rates, few citations and fewer fines … CMS may restart transfers from one of...
CMS to begin audits for schizophrenia coding, says citations will affect quality ratings
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 19, 2023
The agency will start auditing nursing homes this month to determine whether residents’ schizophrenia diagnoses are accurate and appropriately coded. A pattern of inaccurate coding may result in a quality...