‘Fully vaccinated’ may be moving target in face of breakthroughs, omicron … Merck’s COVID-19 pill effective, but less so than first shown, FDA finds … 3 more states join lawsuit challenging CMS...
CMS: ‘Won’t be long’ until more vaccination guidance is issued
By
Danielle Brown
Nov 24, 2021
Nursing home and other providers can expect follow-up guidance on the federal government’s healthcare worker COVID-19 vaccination rule, including clarification on surveyor compliance, in “a week or...
CMS to nursing homes: Enjoy the holidays but stay vigilant
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 24, 2021
CMS has suggestions on how to handle visitation while keeping infection control and prevention principles top of mind during the holidays.
Nursing homes fined nearly $1 million over state vaccination rules
By
Danielle Brown
Nov 23, 2021
Nursing home stakeholders in Connecticut are calling on the state to take a deeper look into facilities’ compliance with its COVID-19 vaccine mandate and reporting requirements in response to nearly...
COVID shot boosters for all adults will help to reduce confusion, FDA says
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 22, 2021
The FDA “heard loud and clear” that a simpler booster strategy was needed, its vaccine chief says. But the action may be too late to head off a winter virus surge, observers say.
CMS vaccination rule could outlast COVID-19 pandemic
By
Danielle Brown
Nov 19, 2021
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services could opt to keep its new COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers beyond the public healthcare crisis, according to a new analysis by the Kaiser Family...
Monoclonal antibodies excel in treating COVID-19 breakthrough cases, Mayo Clinic says
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 19, 2021
Monoclonal antibody treatment lowers the odds of hospitalization by 77% in patients with COVID-19 breakthrough infections, investigators say. These SARS-CoV-2 reinfections have become more common in long-term...
Smartphone technology helps seniors with mild dementia complete daily tasks, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 18, 2021
Despite the pervasive notion that older adults dislike technology, participants enjoyed learning to use smartphone memory apps and were able to improve their daily prospective memory performance over four...
Fed’s booster OK too late? Nursing home loses 8 to coronavirus outbreak this fall
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 17, 2021
A Connecticut nursing home has weathered a facility-wide COVID-19 outbreak that has sickened 89 residents and staff. Booster shots were not yet authorized when the first cases appeared, the operator reports.
Providers press CMS on COVID-19 vaccination for surveyors
By
Danielle Brown
Nov 16, 2021
Updated nursing home COVID-19 visitation guidance issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services was widely welcomed by long-term care providers Monday, but stakeholders are still seeking more...