HHS extends coverage for COVID-19 screening at nursing homes
By
Danielle Brown
Sep 01, 2020
Nursing homes in states that prohibit the use of point-of-care COVID-19 tests to screen for the disease can now do so after the Department of Health and Human Services extended coverage to include congregate...
CDC advisers: Long-term care workers, residents should receive first COVID-19 vaccinations
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 02, 2020
An influential committee on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly to recommend that healthcare personnel and residents in long-term care should be the very first recipients of COVID-19 vaccinations. The vote reflects...
Providers stress testing, need for additional resources following federal reopening guidance
By
Danielle Brown
May 19, 2020
Providers stressed the importance of testing and the need for additional support after the federal government laid out steps Monday for safely reopening nursing homes to visitors.
Providers plea for support after Trump nixes COVID-19 relief talks
By
Danielle Brown
Oct 08, 2020
President Trump’s abrupt decision to halt negotiations between his staff and federal lawmakers on another COVID-19 relief bill until after the election could mean doom for residents and workers at long-term...
$3T stimulus proposal calls for MFAR delay, 14% FMAP increase, $500M SNF ‘strike team’ fund
By
Danielle Brown
May 14, 2020
A Medicaid proposal that providers say could cut up to $50 billion nationwide from the program annually would be barred from being finalized during the coronavirus pandemic under a $3 trillion stimulus...
LTC now has higher federal priority for PPE, testing
By
Danielle Brown
Liza Berger
Apr 30, 2020
Long-term care providers have finally been given a higher priority status to receive personal protection equipment and other relief from the federal government during the ongoing coronavirus health crisis.
‘Most difficult year in history’: Long-term care industry finally rebounding after suffering more...
By
Danielle Brown
Mar 03, 2021
Despite a year that saw more than 171,000 nursing home residents and caregivers die from COVID-19, providers are now celebrating their latest victory in the battle against the virus.
Specifics of point-of-care COVID-19 testing coming to all U.S. nursing homes; providers welcome move
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 15, 2020
The federal government’s plan to provide “point-of-care” COVID-19 tests to every single U.S. nursing home is “welcome news for long-term care residents, staff and providers.”
Don’t shelve rapid tests as COVID cases climb, advocates implore nursing homes
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 03, 2020
Industry advocates say it’s time for facility operators who have not made full use of rapid antigen tests to start doing so — before nursing home deaths begin to spike again. CMS must “take to...
Providers hopeful about next Senate virus relief bill
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 09, 2020
Nursing home operators and the rest of the country may soon know the key components in a fourth, and likely final, coronavirus relief package from the federal government.