How QIOs, strike teams helped in COVID-19 trenches with majority of nursing homes
By
Kimberly Marselas
Mar 04, 2021
Federal strike teams and quality improvement contractors, acting in expanded roles, helped reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection by guiding interventions at more than half of all U.S. nursing homes, said...
CMS: Educate, vaccinate and be ready to prove it
By
Danielle Brown
May 14, 2021
Nursing home operators must be ready to prove they provided education and offered both residents and staff the COVID-19 vaccine once enforcement of a new interim rule begins next month.
CMS ends COVID blanket waivers for resident transfers and discharges, roommate changes
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 12, 2021
Providers must resume giving advance notice about resident transfers, discharges, and room and roommate changes after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services ended emergency blanket waivers for the...
CMS: Lower COVID rates linked to higher nursing home quality ratings
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 02, 2021
Higher facility star ratings are tied to lower COVID transmission rates and fewer deaths, according to the agency’s chief medical officer and director of its Center for Clinical Standards and Quality.
BREAKING: HHS reveals provider incentive plan for remaining $2 billion in relief funding
By
James M. Berklan
Sep 03, 2020
The Department of Health and Human Services announced it will use infection and mortality rates to determine nursing home incentive pay when distributing a previously announced $2 billion Provider Relief...
PPE, staff shortages unchanged: CMS data show 1 in 5 facilities ‘severely’ affected
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 24, 2020
There were notable clusters of equipment shortfalls in certain states. A quarter of U.S. counties had at least 44% of nursing homes reporting low staffing levels.
CMS ‘getting pretty close’ to releasing details of COVID-19 vaccination mandate
By
James M. Berklan
Oct 05, 2021
Long-term care providers and other healthcare employers remain in the dark as to what will be required with the federal government’s impending COVID-19 vaccination mandate for employees.
Nursing homes criticize CMS chest-thumping about $15.5M pandemic fines, severe citations
By
James M. Berklan
Aug 17, 2020
Nursing home operators were left shaking their heads and criticizing the Trump administration over the weekend after the latter touted larger than usual numbers of serious citations and fine amounts against...
Providers warn of access issues as waivers near their end
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 08, 2022
Phasing out several COVID-related waivers, including one allowing temporary nurse aide training, over the next several weeks will further complicate workforce struggles, skilled nursing providers said...
Providers decry major ‘crack down’ without major funding
By
Danielle Brown
Mar 01, 2022
A historic slate of reforms that would set federal staffing standards and ratchet up penalties at poor-performing facilities — but not pay more for on-site upgrades — was widely criticized by providers...