CDC advisers: Long-term care workers, residents should receive first COVID-19 vaccinations
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 02, 2020
An influential committee on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly to recommend that healthcare personnel and residents in long-term care should be the very first recipients of COVID-19 vaccinations. The vote reflects...
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’...
HHS: Public health emergency, key funding and waivers likely to extend through 2021
By
Danielle Brown
Jan 26, 2021
A top federal health official has indicated that the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration will likely stay put throughout 2021 — securing a critical tool for long-term providers to help them...
‘Cash crunch’ ahead: Volume of hospital discharges to SNFs unlikely to rebound ‘any time soon,’...
By
Liza Berger
Oct 08, 2020
The volume of hospital discharges to skilled nursing facilities is not likely to return to anything like pre-pandemic levels in the near future, said Fred Bentley, managing director of Avalere, a healthcare...
BREAKING: Feds partner with CVS, Walgreens to provide pending COVID-19 vaccinations to all senior care...
By
James M. Berklan
Oct 16, 2020
Residents and workers of all long-term care settings will receive free vaccinations against the coronavirus onsite under a special public-private partnership with pharmaceutical giants CVS and Walgreens,...
COVID-19 vaccinations are essentially at a standstill in U.S. nursing homes and assisted living communities due to federal officials’ call today for a pause on the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Feds struggle to provide COVID-19 tally for nursing homes: report
By
Alicia Lasek
May 09, 2020
Weeks after CMS announced it would begin tracking outbreaks and deaths in the nation’s eldercare facilities, there are no solid numbers available, say investigators.
Providers hopeful about next Senate virus relief bill
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 09, 2020
Nursing home operators and the rest of the country may soon know the key components in a fourth, and likely final, coronavirus relief package from the federal government.
Campaign urges Congress to end ‘national nightmare’ of COVID-19 and protect older adults, caregivers
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Jun 18, 2020
The Act for Older Adults campaign calls for a comprehensive relief package, including ‘hero’ pay and paid sick leave for care providers, and a $100 billion emergency fund.
REIT leader: ‘Even more bullish than before’ on skilled nursing
By
James M. Berklan
Sep 29, 2020
Census pressure and uncertainties caused by COVID-19 continue to threaten the nursing home industry. But at least one major real estate investment trust CEO sees this period as a time of good opportunity...