Despite lack of complaints, CMS warns providers not to take resident stimulus checks
By
Danielle Brown
Jun 12, 2020
Nursing home providers that seize stimulus checks from residents could be removed from participating in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, the Trump Administration warned this week.
Nearly 12k nursing homes receiving point-of-care testing in second distribution wave
By
Danielle Brown
Aug 24, 2020
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has unveiled the names of nursing homes set to receive the COVID-19 point-of-care testing devices in its second wave.
The head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stressed the need for repeated testing among staff members to stop the spread of COVID-19 in nursing homes.
PPE, staff shortages unchanged: CMS data show 1 in 5 facilities ‘severely’ affected
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 24, 2020
There were notable clusters of equipment shortfalls in certain states. A quarter of U.S. counties had at least 44% of nursing homes reporting low staffing levels.
Coronavirus nursing home commission delivers draft of recommendations to CMS
By
Danielle Brown
Aug 27, 2020
A national commission tasked with reviewing nursing homes’ response to the coronavirus crisis has delivered a draft of its recommendations to the federal government.
CMS releases county COVID data for staff testing requirements
By
Danielle Brown
Sep 08, 2020
Providers can now check how often they’ll be required to test staff members for COVID-19 after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released county coronavirus data last week.
Time to allow visits: Vaccine success supports reopening in long-term care, advocates say
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 26, 2021
State and federal officials are being urged to ease visitation restrictions as COVID-19 vaccinations continue and cases fall among residents.
New CMS guidance allows focused COVID testing during outbreak investigations
By
Danielle Brown
Sep 13, 2021
Updated guidance released Friday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services gives nursing homes more options for conducting a COVID-19 outbreak investigation after a positive test occurs.
Value of extended Medicare loan repayment period hinges on how neediest rebound: expert
By
Danielle Brown
Oct 13, 2020
The effectiveness of the federal government’s move to extend the repayment terms for providers who received advanced Medicare payments during the pandemic will depend “how quickly the industry and...
Short-staffed long-term care providers are struggling to respond to COVID-19 outbreaks at their facilities and comply with a federal requirement to report COVID vaccination data.