Program that diagnosed fractures virtually led to fewer ER visits for LTC residents: study
By
Alicia Lasek
May 14, 2023
A program that enabled virtual diagnosis and on-site fracture care kept 100% of participating LTC residents out of the emergency department and cut the need for clinic visits, a new study reveals.
FDA advisers support full approval of Paxlovid for at-risk older adults
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 16, 2023
The antiviral drug Paxlovid should receive full FDA approval to treat COVID-19 in older adults at risk of severe outcomes, the advisers decided in a Thursday vote.
AHCA/NCAL to CMS: Safeguard temporary nurse aide jobs by reissuing employment waiver
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 04, 2022
The industry advocate is urging CMS to reissue a blanket waiver that would allow nursing homes to employ temporary nurse aides beyond the public health emergency.
Eli Lilly expects Medicare about-face on Alzheimer’s drugs coverage
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 23, 2023
New data on Lilly’s experimental drug donanemab may influence CMS’s restrictive stance on coverage of this and other amyloid-busting Alzheimer’s treatments, a company executive says.
VHA to cover new Alzheimer’s drug Leqembi, despite CMS’s restraint
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 14, 2023
The Veterans Health Administration will provide coverage for the recently approved drug lecanemab (Leqembi) to qualified veterans with early Alzheimer’s disease. It’s a surprise move considering...
Common diabetes drug may serve as novel Afib treatment
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 13, 2022
If approved, it would be the first new drug identified to treat this disease of the heart in a decade, according to Cleveland Clinic researchers.
Initial symptoms of dementia predict speed of progression, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 16, 2023
No matter the type of underlying brain changes, the first cognitive symptoms of dementia help predict long-term functional outcomes, researchers report.
Symptomless COVID infections found in almost half of US adults, CDC says
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 05, 2022
Approximately 44% of US adults were “possibly asymptomatically infected,” between August 2021 and May 2022, blood serum evidence shows.
Paxlovid cuts COVID hospitalization, which may leave older adults weakened
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 02, 2022
The CDC reports that COVID patients treated with the antiviral Paxlovid have a 51% lower risk of hospitalization, while another study has tied acute-care stays to muscle loss and long COVID.
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...