Healthcare worker safety gets new emphasis from federal agencies
By
Joe Bush
Dec 13, 2022
Two federal agencies re-emphasized their commitment to nursing home and other healthcare worker safety with actions in the past week, one of which included a request for permanent COVID standards.
Healthcare worker vaccination mandate could end after a military vax withdrawal
By
Joe Bush
Dec 06, 2022
Two national vaccine mandates, including the one affecting most nursing home workers, are under attack and could face reversal.
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...
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.
With little to show for past efforts, SNFs under the microscope again on readmissions
By
Joe Bush
Oct 27, 2022
A federal watchdog’s announcement this week that it plans to more closely scrutinize “possibly preventable” readmissions of skilled nursing patients to hospitals underscores the federal government’s...
Feds ramp up nursing home sanctions for poor care performance
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 24, 2022
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will more aggressively enforce accountability in its Special Focus Facilities (SFF) Program, the Biden Administration said Friday.
Also in the News for Oct. 24, 2022
By
Joe Bush
Oct 24, 2022
Psychologist who worked with nursing homes convicted of fraud … HHS commits $13 million for nurse education and training … CMS asks for comment on information collection, including PACE info … Wyoming...
Arbitration battles loom after Supreme Court inaction, tough new guidance
By
Kimberly Marselas
Oct 05, 2022
The US Supreme Court this week refused to hear arguments that nursing homes should be able to require pre-dispute arbitration agreements, clearing the way for enforcement of stiff new arbitration rules...
Providers to feds: Ease up on ‘restrictive’ COVID recommendations to ease staffing crunch
By
Danielle Brown
Jun 30, 2022
The nation’s second largest nursing home association has asked the Department of Health and Human Services to reevaluate several of its COVID-19 recommendations for nursing homes, saying they restrict...