BREAKING NEWS: CMS directing ‘immediate’ help to nursing homes in COVID-19 ‘hotspot’ areas
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 10, 2020
Federal health authorities announced Friday that they will be sending nursing homes in COVID-19 hotspots “immediate assistance.”
J&J delaying vaccine trials due to ‘unexplained illness’
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 14, 2020
Late-stage COVID-19 vaccine trials by Johnson & Johnson have been temporarily halted due to an “unexplained illness in a study participant,” the company reported Monday.
Feds scramble to boost availability of COVID-19 tests
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 15, 2020
The House has passed a bill that includes Medicare waivers to allow free testing for all, while the White House has funded fast-track test development.
Healthcare worker, OSHA vaccine mandates headed to Supreme Court
By
Kimberly Marselas
Dec 19, 2021
The immediate fate of a federal vaccine mandate covering most U.S. healthcare workers was in the hands of the Supreme Court this weekend, as the Biden administration sought to reverse an injunction preventing...
On-site communication tools provide family check-ins
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 01, 2020
New and discounted communication tools that help providers, residents and families connect despite COVID-19 restrictions continue to emerge. For example, software maker SafeKeeping has begun providing...
Opponents of the federal government’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers are pursuing two fresh pathways to defeat it. Both challenges cite the pandemic’s current, less critical stage...
Advisory group recommends granny cams, more infection control regs
By
Danielle Brown
Jan 11, 2021
Connecticut nursing homes could be required to increase their on-hand supply of personal protective equipment and allow residents or their families to install cameras in their rooms, if recommendations...
Feds still ‘optimistic’ limited supply of a COVID-19 vaccine will be ready by year’s end
By
Danielle Brown
Oct 22, 2020
Federal officials are confident that a COVID-19 vaccine will be ready to distribute by the end of this year just days after announcing a major program that would provide the medication for long-term care...
Omicron variant, lack of booster prioritization could haunt SNFs as occupancy dips
By
Danielle Brown
Dec 10, 2021
Skilled nursing occupancy declined in September, weeks before the omicron variant of COVID-19 arrived and further threatened the industry’s recovery.
BREAKING: CMS resumes routine inspections for nursing home providers
By
Danielle Brown
Aug 17, 2020
After nearly five months, federal officials disclosed Monday that they are resuming routine inspections for all Medicare- and Medicaid-certified providers and suppliers.