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.
More than 70% of providers lack PPE as U.S. COVID-19 death toll passes 50,000, AHCA chief says
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 27, 2020
A vast majority of healthcare providers are still struggling to find adequate personal protective equipment for workers during the coronavirus crisis.
CMS lowers pay hike for skilled nursing facilities to 1.2%
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 31, 2015
Medicare skilled nursing facilities would get a net 1.2% pay increase — totaling $430 million — in fiscal 2016 under a final rule issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services late Thursday.
It’s official: Omicron causes less severe COVID-19 illness than prior variants, CDC study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 26, 2022
The SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant is much less likely to cause severe illness and death than its predecessors, according to a new analysis of U.S. data from December 2020 through mid-January 2022.
Retail giants wrap up vaccine clinics, launch new LTC services for ongoing care
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 23, 2021
CVS Health and Walgreens have completed their final LTC clinics, and are handing the reins to Omnicare and PharMerica to provide ongoing COVID-19 vaccination services in skilled nursing facilities and...
Congress advisers back permanent telehealth expansions, look to nix in-person rule for behavioral telehealth...
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 12, 2024
Maintaining Medicare beneficiaries’ access to telehealth services, especially for behavioral health, must remain an initial priority over payment reform or quality measurement, members of a congressional...
Expert says pandemic highlights need ‘more money, new model’ for long-term care
By
Danielle Brown
Jun 11, 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has been brutal for the long-term care system in the United States, but the pandemic can serve as a learning opportunity to rethink the care system and how it’s funded, according...
Providers to report COVID infections in 12 hours or face $1k fines, CMS says
By
James M. Berklan
Apr 21, 2020
Nursing homes will face fines of “at least” $1,000 per week for not reporting COVID-19 infections within 12 hours of learning about them, federal regulators said Monday.
Infection preventionists join ranks of the burned-out, survey finds
By
Alicia Lasek (f3)
Jul 15, 2022
The reduced well-being of these workers impacts healthcare quality and safety in a time when there is a 25% IP job vacancy rate.
DaVita exec skeptical pandemic is receding
By
Diane Eastabrook
May 11, 2022
The chief financial officer for global dialysis provider DaVita Health is throwing cold water on the notion that the COVID-19 pandemic is ending anytime soon.