11% of state’s nursing homes facing closure, survey finds
By
Danielle Brown
May 09, 2022
About 11% of nursing home operators in Minnesota are considering selling their facility or closing their doors due to continued financial strain caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, a new survey has found.
Honoring our fallen
By
Sara Bender
May 04, 2022
“What we once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes part of us.” — Helen Keller. These past two years of the pandemic have presented clinical challenges...
Providers warn of access issues as waivers near their end
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 08, 2022
Phasing out several COVID-related waivers, including one allowing temporary nurse aide training, over the next several weeks will further complicate workforce struggles, skilled nursing providers said...
Reforms could start sooner than one year, Becerra says in ‘monumental’ nursing home meeting
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 01, 2022
The federal government will meet or exceed a goal of implementing key nursing home reform measures within a year, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said Wednesday.
Share of nursing facilities reporting staffing shortages declines
By
Danielle Brown
Mar 23, 2022
Less nursing homes are reporting at least one staffing shortage through the end of February, according to a new analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
These 10 steps needed to save skilled nursing, experts say
By
Kimberly Marselas
Feb 24, 2022
An ambitious, 10-pronged reform package that includes cash infusions and regulatory fixes is needed to head off another COVID-scale tragedy in long-term care, according to two leading healthcare researchers.
CMS will work with states, providers to help them comply with vaccine rule: report
By
Danielle Brown
Feb 17, 2022
West Virginia and Virginia’s requests for a waiver from the healthcare worker COVID-19 vaccine mandate for rural providers and state-run facilities likely won’t be granted by the Centers for Medicare...
Gap between patient costs, reimbursements hits $11 daily
By
Danielle Brown
Feb 16, 2022
Federal reimbursements for care during the public health emergency haven’t been enough to cover skilled nursing providers actual costs, according to a new analysis by Marcum LLP’s Healthcare Services...
Hospital’s coronavirus containment success a model for other facilities, researchers say
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 09, 2022
A testing and mask protocol that rapidly stopped the spread of COVID-19 in two hospital units during the omicron surge may be a useful model for other facilities to emulate, researchers say.
CMS memo: ‘Dramatic staff losses’ not happening due to vax requirements
By
James M. Berklan
Feb 02, 2022
Declaring once again that “Vaccine requirements work,” Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure on Tuesday urged healthcare facility administrators to increase...