Verma: CMS to ensure free COVID vaccine for seniors, Medicaid beneficiaries
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 16, 2020
The agency has a plan to expedite the new coverage and will provide more information before the end of October, Verma said. CMS is also working on appropriate Medicare fees for administration of potential...
Electrostatic sprayers hit the spot for surface disinfection in long-term care
By
Katherine Velez, PhD
Oct 15, 2020
Using established technologies in innovative ways can help long-term care facilities navigate the “new normal” of clean needed to meet pandemic and post-pandemic standards. Electrostatic sprayers can...
Increased penalties could stop nursing home staffing improvements: study
By
Danielle Brown
Oct 14, 2020
Providing more financial security for U.S. nursing homes may help prevent future staffing shortages after researchers found that about one in six facilities have reported shortfalls in licensed nurses...
Provider group issues tips on how to help residents vote amid pandemic
By
Danielle Brown
Oct 14, 2020
Nursing home activity directors could use the upcoming presidential election to engage residents about voting this year, says the nation’s largest nursing home association.
States prohibiting point-of-care COVID-19 testing devices face trouble, HHS warns
By
Danielle Brown
Oct 13, 2020
States that prohibit long-term care providers from using rapid, point-of-care antigen testing devices are in violation of federal law and could face serious consequences from public health authorities,...
Stop antigen testing in skilled nursing facilities, Nevada tells operators
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 09, 2020
Nursing facilities in Nevada have been ordered to stop using COVID-19 rapid antigen tests due to apparent diagnostic inaccuracies. Health officials say they will gather more data before issuing updated...
Nevada suspends use of point-of-care rapid testing devices at nursing homes
By
Danielle Brown
Oct 09, 2020
Long-term care providers in Nevada are being advised to continue using point-of-care rapid testing devices provided by the federal government — despite a state order that nursing facilities immediately...
AHCA’s Parkinson: Feds confirm 1M rapid COVID tests weekly through 2020, most worried about low census...
By
James M. Berklan
Oct 08, 2020
A worrisome slowdown in federal distribution of coronavirus rapid-screening tests this week is only a temporary aberration that will quickly be corrected, the leader of the largest skilled nursing and...
Providers plea for support after Trump nixes COVID-19 relief talks
By
Danielle Brown
Oct 08, 2020
President Trump’s abrupt decision to halt negotiations between his staff and federal lawmakers on another COVID-19 relief bill until after the election could mean doom for residents and workers at long-term...
Judge rules nursing home residents can vote by video, while CMS emphasizes that providers must ensure...
By
Danielle Brown
Oct 07, 2020
The Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services this week is reminding providers that they must ensure nursing home residents are able to exercise their right to vote during the upcoming presidential election...