‘Fully vaccinated’ may be moving target in face of breakthroughs, omicron
By
Kimberly Marselas
Nov 29, 2021
More than a week after federal health officials greenlighted booster shots for all American adults, questions remain about what it means to be “fully vaccinated” against COVID-19 — and whether that...
Senators want to know: Will vets be pulled from state-run VA facilities over vaccine mandates?
By
Kimberly Marselas
Nov 29, 2021
Missouri Sens. Roy Blunt and Josh Hawley, both Republicans, are demanding answers from the Department of Veterans Affairs on how veterans in long-term care facilities could be impacted by federal COVID-19...
Death toll rises as nursing home operator faces 7 closures, legal scrutiny over hurricane evacuation
By
Kimberly Marselas
Sep 07, 2021
Seven nursing home residents have now died after being shipped to a warehouse in advance of Hurricane Ida, and Louisiana officials have ordered the temporary closure of the seven nursing homes where they...
New dashboard to track ‘Long COVID’ cases for healthcare planning
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 25, 2021
The dashboard will track state and county level statistics and trends. The goal is to provide data to healthcare decision makers as they prepare to care for patients with lingering symptoms, says the American...
All nursing home staff in Massachusetts must get COVID-19 shots
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 05, 2021
The state is requiring staff and contract employees in all of its 378 facilities to receive a vaccination, Gov. Charlie Baker announced Wednesday.
Providers tell CMS it’s ‘decidedly’ the wrong time to toy with PDPM rates
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jun 03, 2021
Providers need more time before the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services would implement any adjustments to PDPM payment rates, operators and associations have told the agency in official comments.
LTC vaccinators opt to briefly halt J&J shots while awaiting FDA guidance
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 14, 2021
Long-term care pharmacies and clinicians have temporarily paused their use of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID vaccine following recommendations from health officials. Guidance is needed quickly in order to...
Another COVID-19 suit heads into limbo over PREP Act as jurisdiction battles mount nationally
By
Kimberly Marselas
Mar 31, 2021
An Alabama nursing home hoping to fight off a wrongful death suit related to COVID-19 is one of a growing number waiting for their day court.
Staff buy-in key to reducing ED visits with telemedicine, senior living study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 23, 2021
An attempt to reduce unnecessary emergency department visits with telemedicine triage failed when senior living healthcare providers were not on board. The findings contain lessons for for clinicians and...
Makers of newer vaccines tout advantages as trial results and approvals announced
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 01, 2021
Two drugmakers say their vaccines, which include J&J’s one-dose candidate, are effective against new coronavirus variants, while AstraZeneca’s vaccine is now approved for adults across the...