With new CDC guidance, providers duck ‘up-to-date’ vaccination concerns
By
Kimberly Marselas
Sep 27, 2022
While masking and screening of nursing home workers and visitors may no longer be required in areas with lower COVID-19 transmission rates, vaccination and testing efforts will be crucial if providers...
OIG partly blames CMS for Life Care Centers deficiencies
By
Joe Bush
Sep 20, 2022
A federal watchdog said a lack of communication by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services may have caused infection control deficiency citations at Life Care Centers of America nursing homes between...
HRSA sends more PRF money, still reviewing Phase 4 applications
By
Joe Bush
Sep 14, 2022
The Health Resources and Services Administration disbursed $60 million in Phase 4 PRF funds to 293 providers, leaving approximately $1.6 billion still to be given out.
Teamwork the solution to COVID’s ‘relentless burden,’ workers say
By
Danielle Brown
Jul 27, 2022
Well-coordinated efforts among colleagues was the key to successfully surviving the COVID-19 pandemic for a group nursing home workers who described the first two years of the pandemic as the most stressful...
Emergencies help needed: More ‘strike’ teams, policy improvements vital for nursing homes, report...
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 25, 2022
Despite diligent efforts by nursing homes during COVID-19 outbreaks, operators need help from policy makers to ensure better levels of care during future infection control emergencies, researchers say.
Lingering COVID ailments hamper caregivers’ return to work, require follow-up testing: study
By
Alicia Lasek (f3)
Jul 21, 2022
Nearly half of healthcare workers who had COVID-19 experience related complaints for months after coming down with the virus, said researchers releasing new study results along with back-to-work observations.
CMS still determining what COVID waivers to keep, drop after PHE ends
By
Danielle Brown
Jul 20, 2022
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is in the process of deciding what COVID-19 regulatory waivers will remain permanent or be retired following the end of the public health emergency.
Initial COVID-19 lockdown had no ‘clinically relevant negative effects’ on residents’ mood, behavior,...
By
Danielle Brown
Jul 19, 2022
Nursing homes’ initial lockdown during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic did not result in “clinically relevant negative effects” on residents’ mood, behavior, social and cognitive functions,...
CMS doubles down: Surveyors do not have to be COVID vaccinated
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 07, 2022
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has held audiences with skilled nursing providers, made presentations and entertained comments in recent months to assure operators that regulatory actions...
NHSN changes definition of ‘up to date’ for COVID shots
By
Danielle Brown
Jun 21, 2022
The National Healthcare Safety Network has modified its definition of “up to date” for long-term care facilities submitting their COVID-19 data to the system. Now it includes a booster shot.