Most post-acute Medicare recipients with dementia sent to SNFs despite payment changes: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 15, 2021
Investigators were surprised to find that post-acute care use patterns remained stable after major payment reform initiatives. Beneficiaries with dementia were sent to skilled nursing facilities more often...
POLST form triples odds that residents’ treatment wishes are known: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 23, 2020
Nursing home residents who had Physician’s Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment significantly increased the likelihood that their treatment preferences were documented in their medical record, a statewide...
Arthritis drug Actemra in short supply as demand for use in COVID ramps up
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 18, 2021
Demand for Actemra IV has skyrocketed due to the latest wave of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations, drugmaker Genentech says. In the past two weeks alone, orders for the drug shot up to 400% of pre-COVID...
Ambien alternative? FDA approves insomnia drug that improves sleep in seniors
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 01, 2020
New insomnia medication lemborexant compared favorably to an extended release form of Ambien in a late-stage clinical trial.
Clinical briefs for Wednesday, March 9
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 09, 2022
AHCA requests sit-down with Biden and top officials on nursing home reform plans … CDC director says COVID-19 will ‘probably’ become seasonal … Despite FDA efforts, fewer than 20% of drugs have...
Unique form of dementia is common, may require alternate therapies, experts say
By
Alicia Lasek (f3)
Jun 15, 2022
Brain changes linked to a recently identified form of dementia may be present in fully 40% of older adults, neurologists say.
Researchers learn more about how Alzheimer’s begins its dirty work
By
John O'Connor
Dec 17, 2019
British scientists have discovered the functions of the area of the brain in which Alzheimer’s begins.
AMDA releases COVID-19 vaccine medical exemption request forms, guidance
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 18, 2022
Now that the Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate, a leading industry advocate is offering guidance and templates to assist long-term care medical directors in handling...
Clinical briefs for Friday, Feb. 18
By
Amy Novotney
Feb 18, 2022
CDC reforming COVID-19 guidance … Nearly three-quarters of the U.S. now estimated to be immune to omicron variant … Brain synapse destruction culprit behind Alzheimer’s cognitive decline … Treatment...
Clinical briefs for Thursday, July 8
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 08, 2021
New CMS Medicare chief was health system exec, former HHS health reform director … More falls may occur in SNFs after admitting residents with existing cognitive decline: study … New health benefits...