As nursing homes fret COVID-19 vaccine distribution, only 14% say they’ll mandate it for staff
By
James M. Berklan
Dec 18, 2020
Nursing home operators continue to worry about the timing and quantities of newly approved COVID-19 vaccines reaching them this week and next, but some of the fretting could be for nought. Less than 15%...
The fifth vital sign
By
James M. Berklan
Jun 26, 2017
It turns out Linda Shell’s hero had modern medicine right all along, even if her last utterance was well over 100 years ago.
Nursing homes to feds: Expand COVID-19 testing to all, pay $120K per facility, increase PPE shipments
By
James M. Berklan
May 05, 2020
The nation’s largest nursing home and assisted living association has turned up the pressure on the federal government, sending formal letters to federal authorities Monday asking for priority COVID-19...
Analysis: PPE costs increase over 1,000% during COVID-19 crisis
By
James M. Berklan
Apr 09, 2020
Skilled nursing facilities and assisted living centers treating COVID-19 patients have experienced a 1,064% increase in costs for required personal protective equipment since the deadly virus started its...
BREAKING: Nursing home commission makes 27 recommendations, calls for ‘greater leadership role’...
By
James M. Berklan
Sep 16, 2020
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released recommendations from the Coronavirus Commission on Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes on Wednesday and, as expected, they contain a laundry list of...
New LeadingAge board chair declares it’s time to play ball
By
James M. Berklan
Nov 02, 2017
Several thousand LeadingAge members got their first look at new board chairman Steve Fleming on Monday, and if initial meetings are any indication, it’s going to be a wonderful relationship.
Federal court orders CMS to educate more about Jimmo ‘Improvement Standard’ case
By
James M. Berklan
Aug 19, 2016
Long-term care providers and consumer advocates were able to celebrate a victory over federal regulators on Thursday. But while the infrequent partners might feel they caught a good decision out of U.S....
Celebrating a non-tragedy
By
James M. Berklan
Jan 25, 2012
I believe there are good news stories around us all the time. Our eyes, and brains, often are just too conditioned and look past them. It’s human nature. Consider this small-town long-term care story...
Feds’ ‘dramatic expansion’ of telehealth widens payment coverage; HIPAA rules are relaxed for COVID-19
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 18, 2020
The federal government removed Medicare restrictions for telehealth coverage nationwide Tuesday while also temporarily relaxing HIPAA obligations for providers. The latter opens the door for doctors’...
As COVID carnage may cool, expect the heat on nursing homes to rise
By
James M. Berklan
May 19, 2022
You can have big trouble at the doorstep and not be able to do anything about it if you’re not paying close enough attention.