HHS chief returns focus of low COVID-19 vax rates to nursing homes
By
James M. Berklan
Jan 04, 2024
The nation’s top health official met with US nursing home leaders for the second time in two weeks Wednesday to discuss what he called concerningly low COVID-19 vaccination rates among long-term care...
Fauci: Early data show omicron spreads quickly but with less severity than delta
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 08, 2021
Omicron cases appear to have led to fewer hospitalizations and patients have been less likely to need oxygen, the White House’s infectious disease expert said Tuesday.
CVS: Independent living residents will continue to wait for COVID-19 vaccination
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Jan 06, 2021
Independent living residents, even those who live in CCRCs, will have to continue to wait for COVID-19 vaccination, according to one of the retail giants administering the vaccines in long-term care.
Nursing home sued over $270,000 COVID testing bill
By
John Hall
Aug 24, 2022
A national testing lab has filed a complaint against a New York nursing home over an unpaid COVID-testing bill of nearly a quarter of a million dollars.
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...
Test twice? Antigen tests reach peak sensitivity 4 days in, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek (f3)
May 03, 2022
It may be best to repeat an early COVID-19 antigen test a day or two later when symptomatic individuals receive negative results, investigators say.
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.
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.
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...
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...