Top US health official takes more heat over nursing home staffing standards
By
Kimberly Marselas
Mar 22, 2024
For the second time in a week, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra faced a grilling on Capitol Hill over federal regulators’ plans to impose a nurse staffing minimum on all US nursing...
Are nursing homes headed for an 80% direct-spend rule?
By
Kimberly Marselas
Dec 11, 2023
A national union on Friday skewed comments made by Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to imply federal regulators had proposed an 80% direct care spending requirement for the nursing home...
Medical marijuana lawsuit highlights provider trap as laws clash
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Oct 11, 2023
A new case challenging an applicant’s dismissal due to medical marijuana use is raising concerns about what kind of legal protection job seekers and facilities have — especially amid a national nursing...
HHS proposes rule extending discrimination protections to patients with disabilities
By
Adam Healy
Sep 07, 2023
The US Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday announced a proposed rule that seeks to strengthen efforts against disability-based discrimination. The proposal singles out the importance of...
GAO report finds ‘deficiencies’ in HHS’s handling of PHEs
May 15, 2023
Over a decades’ time, these issues have affected the nation’s response not only to COVID-19, but to past public health emergencies including the H1N1 influenza pandemic and extreme weather events...
A possible escape from the nursing home staffing mandate?
By
James M. Berklan
May 14, 2023
There may be a silver lining to the excruciating wait providers are enduring for the White House’s nursing home staffing mandate.
HHS to extend PREP Act protections for pharmacy workers after end of PHE
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 16, 2023
Pharmacy providers will continue to have liability immunity when administering COVID-19 and vaccinations, treatments and tests after the end of the Public Health Emergency, the Department of Health and...
Federal report questions efficiency of required nursing hours in infection control
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Jan 20, 2023
A new federal report calls into question whether Medicare’s required hours for registered and licensed practical nurses are adequate in helping protect nursing home residents from infections.
Free COVID tests now available to all aging services providers
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jan 09, 2023
Nursing homes and other aging services providers across the US can now access free COVID-19 test kits through an expanded partnership between the Department of Health and Human Services and LeadingAge.
Tossed from Medicare once, nursing home psychologist pleads guilty in second fraud scheme
By
Kimberly Marselas
Dec 14, 2022
A nursing home psychologist previously excluded from the Medicare program over fraud allegations has pleaded guilty to new charges that he bilked the government out of another $2.5 million.