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...
Lawmakers want Obama-era infection control regulations for nursing homes restored
By
Danielle Brown
Mar 10, 2021
Stricter infection control and emergency preparedness regulations could be on the horizon for skilled nursing and other long-term care providers if the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services grants a...
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...
Guidance released on how to resume visits, community activities at long-term care facilities
By
Danielle Brown
Mar 02, 2021
The process toward fully opening long-term care facilities to visitors and resuming group activities should be done using a gradual, step-by-step approach in order to mitigate the risk of potential COVID...
Grim anniversary: First U.S. COVID-19 outbreak announced at nursing home 1 year ago today
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 01, 2021
Today marks the one-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 outbreak in the United States. It was announced Feb. 29, 2020, at a Kirkland, WA, nursing home and kicked off what has roundly been called the...
Federal health nominee grilled on nursing home data discrepancies
By
Danielle Brown
Mar 01, 2021
Disparities in Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 nursing home data took center stage at a hearing for President Joe Biden’s pick to become assistant secretary at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Essential caregiver programs proliferate, require careful balance of compliance and companionship considerations
By
Danielle Brown
Feb 26, 2021
Providers establishing essential caregiver programs will likely face a balancing act between complying with federal and state guidance and addressing resident isolation — issues that will continue as...
Investigation into alleged COVID-era neglect reveals previous short-staffing cover-up, prosecutors say
By
Danielle Brown
Feb 26, 2021
A criminal investigation into one Pennsylvania nursing home led to an indictment against a related facility’s former administrator, who now faces federal charges for inflating staff reports.
‘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...
HHS nominee emphasizes COVID-19 data reporting
By
Danielle Brown
Feb 25, 2021
President Joe Biden’s pick to be the next secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services stressed the importance of states accurately reporting COVID-19 data — with an emphasis on nursing...