CMS chief holds second 1-on-1 with providers as reform looms
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 04, 2022
Leaders of several nonprofit skilled nursing providers warned Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure about the potential impact of “unfunded mandates” and “counterproductive”...
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.
Clinical briefs for Thursday, March 31
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 31, 2022
White House’s new one-stop COVID.com site has the long game in mind … Fauci expects rebound in COVID-19 cases, but not a surge … Higher cognitive reserve levels linked to disability-free survival...
Kansas losing $350,000 for not enforcing healthcare worker vaccine mandate
By
Danielle Brown
Mar 31, 2022
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is cutting Kansas’ Medicaid funding by nearly $350,000 for not enforcing the federal healthcare worker COVID-19 vaccine mandate in nursing homes and hospitals.
Parkinson offers ‘obvious solution’ to staffing problems, occupancy outlook and financing answers
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 30, 2022
Two “critically important” issues will determine long-term care providers’ near-term fate over the next month and a half, the nation’s top nursing home leader said Tuesday.
Clinical briefs for Wednesday, March 30
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 30, 2022
Senators want answers on Medicaid recipients’ low vaccination rates … FDA approves diabetes drug Ozempic (semaglutide) in 2 mg dose … COVID-19 infection plus flu a dangerous combination: study …...
Docs struggle with making MCI diagnoses, 2022 Alzheimer’s report finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 23, 2022
Less than half of primary care physicians surveyed report being comfortable diagnosing mild cognitive impairment that’s due to Alzheimer’s disease. Fully 90% told researchers that it is “hard...
From grieving staff losses to becoming better bosses
By
Jason Davies
Mar 21, 2022
Servant leadership takes thoughtfulness and introspection, but it will save you valuable employees in the long run.
Repeat booster jabs for residents? COVID-19 immunity in nursing homes wanes quickly, large study shows
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 21, 2022
Results from hundreds of facilities demonstrate not only the value of booster vaccinations, but that there may be an ongoing need for additional shots in the long-term care population.
CDC: Prepare for rebound in TB cases post-pandemic
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 21, 2022
A 20% decline in tuberculosis cases in 2020 may be followed by an uptick once the COVID-19 pandemic wanes, according to CDC investigators. Clinicians should be prepared to detect cases and control spread,...