Patient advocates decry CMS decision on Alzheimer’s drug coverage
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 24, 2023
The Alzheimer’s Association and others have strongly criticized a decision by CMS to stand by its highly restrictive coverage for new dementia drugs.
Require COVID-19 vaccination of all healthcare workers, seven clinical groups say
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 14, 2021
Their evidence-based verdict: healthcare institutions and facilities — including long-term care facilities — should require that their personnel be vaccinated as a condition of employment.
LTC vaccinators opt to briefly halt J&J shots while awaiting FDA guidance
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 14, 2021
Long-term care pharmacies and clinicians have temporarily paused their use of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID vaccine following recommendations from health officials. Guidance is needed quickly in order to...
Flu shot and a COVID jab? New 2021-2022 flu vaccine guidance points to both
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 27, 2021
Clinicians deciding whether to give flu and COVID-19 vaccine shots together can refer to the latest CDC guidance. It states that COVID-19 shots and other vaccinations may now be co-administered “without...
WHO turns attention to fungal infections as drug resistance builds
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 26, 2022
The World Health Organization has created a first-ever priority list of fungi that it says pose the greatest emerging threats to public health.
Federal ‘all or none’ sepsis policy a wash in multi-hospital study
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 20, 2021
SEP-1 requirements meant to combat staggering sepsis rates in the U.S. did not lead to clinically meaningful patient outcomes in 11 UPMC hospitals, physician-scientists say.
FDA OKs third antibody COVID therapy; variants spur new pause on another
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 01, 2021
A new COVID-19 treatment made by GlaxoSmithKline now is the third monoclonal antibody therapy federally authorized to help prevent severe disease outcomes in high-risk patients. But gene variants are interfering...
Medicare Advantage retaining sicker patients with more complex health needs: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 29, 2023
After years of criticism for cherry-picking healthier people for enrollment, Medicare Advantage is now holding onto more patients with chronic conditions, investigators say.
Q&A: Are you listening? A veteran provider on fostering engagement with Black and brown staff, residents
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 26, 2021
The pandemic has trained a spotlight on numerous healthcare disparities faced by Black and brown long-term care residents. Monica Payne, a veteran clinical manager for Omnicare, says that reflecting on...
U.S. COVID-19 strategy must veer to protecting the vulnerable, experts say
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 22, 2022
When planning for a future with COVID-19, some clinicians believe that the public health focus should turn from stopping transmission to protecting those most likely to become severely ill, according to...