Opponents of the federal government’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers are pursuing two fresh pathways to defeat it. Both challenges cite the pandemic’s current, less critical stage...
White House announces big nursing home COVID-19 vaccination push and providers push back
By
Joe Bush
Nov 23, 2022
The Biden administration on Tuesday announced a six-week $475 million campaign to raise the COVID-19 vaccination rate among nursing home residents, and the sector’s leaders responded immediately with...
SCOTUS denies nursing home petition, keeping COVID care cases out of federal court — for now
By
Joe Bush
Nov 22, 2022
Lawsuits against nursing homes for allegedly failing to treat residents properly during the pandemic are more likely to be heard now in state and not federal courts. That’s one conclusion after the US...
Providers warned: Ongoing relief fund audits may bring unprecedented info demands
By
Joe Bush
Nov 21, 2022
Provider Relief Fund audits have started in earnest, with the threat of federal investigators demanding more and different data than most skilled nursing providers have ever been asked to account for.
Study isolates nursing home leaders’ unique COVID-era stressors
By
Joe Bush
Nov 10, 2022
Excessive feelings of guilt, extra infection control precautions, unprecedented long work hours and personal healthcare sacrifices were common among nursing home leaders during the height of the pandemic,...
Pharmacists want bigger role after providing pandemic staffing boost
By
Joe Bush
Nov 09, 2022
Pharmacists are yearning to expand on their success helping skilled nursing facilities during the pandemic, a top executive said Monday.
More flexible CMS vaccine mandate enforcement cheers providers
By
Joe Bush
Oct 28, 2022
Nursing home advocates Thursday cheered news that federal regulators are relaxing their instructions to surveyors when checking for staff compliance with a federal vaccine mandate.
Federal COVID cases with major LTC implications headed for November action
By
Kimberly Marselas
Oct 28, 2022
Two cases that could play a pivotal role in determining how well skilled nursing providers are protected by a federal COVID shield law are headed for important federal court dates.
New White House vaccine push could elevate LTC pharmacist role
By
Joe Bush
Oct 26, 2022
A pharmacy expert is hopeful a new White House push for vaccinations will empower long-term care pharmacists to play a continued role in COVID prevention and treatment.
Nursing homes in spotlight as gubernatorial hopefuls run on pandemic response
By
Joe Bush
Oct 24, 2022
The challenger to unseat incumbent Gov. Kristi Noem (R) in South Dakota made nursing home reform his focus last week at a campaign stop in front of a new nursing home.