Research supports COVID-19 booster shot mandates for SNF workers
By
James M. Berklan
Aug 01, 2022
With the prospect of new strains of the COVID-19 virus looming, researchers are making a case for states to impose vaccination booster shot mandates on nursing home employees.
New federal guidance says employers can require COVID-19 vaccine giving providers ‘peace of mind’
By
Danielle Brown
Jun 02, 2021
Long-term care providers can require staff to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment, according to new guidance released late last week by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Providers push Congress for permanent telehealth capabilities — pandemic’s ‘silver lining’
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 29, 2021
Long-term care stakeholders are looking forward to telehealth policies remaining a “very, very hot topic” in Congress during the COVID-19 public health emergency, and beyond. Service providers say...
CMS guidance on healthcare worker rule stuck amid legal challenges
By
Danielle Brown
Dec 02, 2021
Further guidance on the federal government’s healthcare worker COVID-19 vaccine rule that was expected to be issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services within the next two weeks could be...
Judge slaps nationwide freeze on healthcare worker COVID vax mandate
By
James M. Berklan
Dec 01, 2021
A Louisiana federal judge on Tuesday granted a preliminary injunction against the Biden administration’s mandate that says all healthcare workers involved in the Medicare or Medicaid programs must be...
HHS nominee emphasizes COVID-19 data reporting
By
Danielle Brown
Feb 25, 2021
President Joe Biden’s pick to be the next secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services stressed the importance of states accurately reporting COVID-19 data — with an emphasis on nursing...
‘Balance has tipped’: It’s time to ease up on visitation regulations, nursing homes tell feds
By
Danielle Brown
Feb 25, 2021
Long-term care providers are calling on the federal government to remove regulations that base nursing home indoor visitations on COVID-19 positivity rates in the area now that vaccine coverage is widespread...
BREAKING: Feds expand COVID vaccine mandate to all healthcare workers
By
James M. Berklan
Sep 09, 2021
Staff in all Medicare- and Medicaid-certified facilities will soon be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced Thursday afternoon.
Nursing homes fined nearly $1 million over state vaccination rules
By
Danielle Brown
Nov 23, 2021
Nursing home stakeholders in Connecticut are calling on the state to take a deeper look into facilities’ compliance with its COVID-19 vaccine mandate and reporting requirements in response to nearly...
COVID testing requirements relaxed for fully vaccinated nursing home workers, residents
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 28, 2021
Fully vaccinated nursing home workers and other healthcare personnel who are asymptomatic can be exempt from expanded COVID-19 testing under new recommendations unveiled Tuesday by the Centers for Disease...