Judge slaps nationwide freeze on healthcare worker COVID vax mandate
By
James M. Berklan
Dec 01, 2021
A Louisiana federal judge on Tuesday granted a preliminary injunction against the Biden administration’s mandate that says all healthcare workers involved in the Medicare or Medicaid programs must be...
Now that was one tough week
By
John O'Connor
Jun 20, 2016
Most long-term care facilities would probably like to forget about last week. That’s because two figurative bombshells exploded.
New COVID-19 requirements could be a ‘disaster’
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 22, 2020
LeadingAge is warning that duplicative reporting under newly announced federal COVID-19 reporting requirements for nursing homes could be a “disaster” for providers.
1 in 8 nursing home workers have completed COVID-19 training program, CMS says
By
Danielle Brown
Nov 18, 2020
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is calling for more nursing home staff members to complete its new training program designed to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
CMS lowers pay hike for skilled nursing facilities to 1.2%
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 31, 2015
Medicare skilled nursing facilities would get a net 1.2% pay increase — totaling $430 million — in fiscal 2016 under a final rule issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services late Thursday.
CMS releases additional direction on transferring, discharging coronavirus residents
By
Danielle Brown
James M. Berklan
Apr 14, 2020
Certified long-term care facilities looking to transfer or discharge residents between themselves for the purposes of cohorting do not need additional approval to do so, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid...
Only 4 states have hit 75 percent LTC staff vaccination goal, new CMS data reveal
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 30, 2021
States that have achieved the industry’s June 30 goal are Hawaii, Vermont, Alaska and California, with staff member vaccination rates ranging from 83% to 75%. By contrast, the lowest-ranked state...
‘Balance has tipped’: It’s time to ease up on visitation regulations, nursing homes tell feds
By
Danielle Brown
Feb 25, 2021
Long-term care providers are calling on the federal government to remove regulations that base nursing home indoor visitations on COVID-19 positivity rates in the area now that vaccine coverage is widespread...
CMS opens visitation to nursing homes after year of isolation
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 11, 2021
“Facilities should allow responsible indoor visitation at all times” — no matter the vaccination status of resident or visitor, the agency now says. Its action follows the remarkable, apparent...
CDC guidance on post-vaccination plans at nursing homes could come this week; J&J pause not expected...
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 22, 2021
Federal officials said more infection control and prevention guidance regarding COVID-19 could be coming for nursing homes in the next several days. They also said they don’t expect the pause of Johnson...