Arthritis drug Actemra in short supply as demand for use in COVID ramps up
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 18, 2021
Demand for Actemra IV has skyrocketed due to the latest wave of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations, drugmaker Genentech says. In the past two weeks alone, orders for the drug shot up to 400% of pre-COVID...
CDC revises COVID-19 testing guidelines for nursing homes
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 16, 2020
The agency has updated and consolidated the guidelines, including a recommendation that individuals not be tested more than once in 24 hours.
Federal stockpile of masks, gloves and gowns nearly gone
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 09, 2020
The Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed that about 90% of federally held PPE has been distributed to state and local governments.
Effect of statins only ‘modest’ in lowering cardiovascular risk, study finds
Mar 16, 2022
Statins are often prescribed as standard-of-care for preventing adverse cardiovascular events in patients with high cholesterol levels. But the results of a new study question the basis for these clinical...
CDC revises public indoor mask guidance; no changes yet for healthcare settings
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 28, 2022
Fewer Americans are currently advised to wear masks under a new risk assessment that relies on local hospital capacity and cases rather than COVID-19 transmission rates. LeadingAge is calling on the CDC...
Pharmacies to long-term care: Get in front of COVID-19 vaccination questions
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 07, 2020
With vaccine approval anticipated shortly, the best communicators will have the smoothest Phase 1 vaccination process, say Omnicare and PharMerica. Community pharmacies have recommendations as well.
Questions on monkeypox in LTC? This doc has answers.
Aug 11, 2022
Monkeypox “will likely spread beyond the demographic in which it is currently most concentrated, and facilities need to be prepared to handle exposed or even infected patients,” an expert tells...
Clinical briefs for Tuesday, April 27
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 27, 2021
Frailty and cognitive impairment not reasons to withhold anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation, docs say … Parkinson’s patients’ treatment goals reflect disease progression … Study looks at how...
Feds: Labs ‘caught up’ on COVID-19 test backlog
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 21, 2020
Coronavirus test availability is increasing following a surge in demand and other events that created shortages and longer wait times for results, a federal health official says.
Feds to reimburse providers for counseling patients to self-isolate
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 31, 2020
Existing E/M codes can be used to bill for counseling patients about virus mitigation at the time of COVID-19 testing, according to CMS and the CDC.