Healthcare workers, elderly take priority as new COVID-19 test sites deployed this week
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 16, 2020
Thousands will gain access to new, high-capacity testing sites in the coming days, and certain groups will have priority status, say federal officials.
CMS will pay more to labs that process COVID-19 tests quicker starting Jan. 1
By
Danielle Brown
Oct 16, 2020
Laboratories that process coronavirus diagnostic tests within two calendar days will receive a higher Medicare reimbursement than those that take longer, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced...
CMS seeks to ease COVID staff testing burden on rural operators
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 01, 2020
Some nursing homes have been required to conduct staff testing at a higher frequency than necessary, the agency said in explaining recent changes to its testing methodology.
FDA: Viral mutations unlikely to cause false negatives in COVID-19 tests
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 11, 2021
The agency has alerted healthcare providers that it is monitoring approved SARS-CoV-2 molecular tests to ensure that new viral mutations do not alter their accuracy.
Nursing facilities in ‘hot spots’ to receive first batch of COVID-19 test equipment
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 16, 2020
About 2,000 nursing homes in regions where COVID-19 case counts are high will be the first to receive on-site diagnostic testing equipment from the federal government.
Quit treating pandemic’s toll on nursing homes like a ‘bad apples’ problem, expert...
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 14, 2020
It’s time for the federal government to “own” the problem of containing COVID-19 by paying for and arranging testing across nursing facilities, long-term care policy expert David Grabowski...
Are we there yet? Vaccination success won’t ease need for LTC vigilance, observers say
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 18, 2021
The need for stepped-up infection control measures likely will remain a necessity for the foreseeable future, say industry observers and stakeholders.
Campaign urges Congress to end ‘national nightmare’ of COVID-19 and protect older adults, caregivers
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Jun 18, 2020
The Act for Older Adults campaign calls for a comprehensive relief package, including ‘hero’ pay and paid sick leave for care providers, and a $100 billion emergency fund.