Lawmakers push FDA to take swift action on OTC hearing aids
By
Diane Eastabrook
Apr 12, 2022
A bipartisan team has introduced a bill that orders the FDA to stop dragging its feet and issue a final rule making over-the-counter hearing aids available to consumers.
LTC docs push for more training, competency requirements for medical directors
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 11, 2022
It’s time for Congress and CMS to take action and raise the profile and competencies of industry clinicians — especially medical directors, according to long-term care physician advocate AMDA.
MDS self-care item key to planning appropriate SNF rehabilitation goals, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 11, 2022
A self-care item recently introduced to the Minimum Data Set allows therapeutic teams to better assess a resident’s prior health status and help predict what is needed for recovery, investigators say.
Clinical briefs for Monday, April 11
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 11, 2022
Bridge temporary nurse aides to CNAs now, before waiver ends, AHCA warns … These “good faith” efforts count in revised vaccine mandate guidance … U.S. life expectancy falls for second year...
Rise in antipsychotics prescriptions during pandemic warrant closer look, feds say
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 11, 2022
A federal study has found that prescriptions for antipsychotic medication in nursing homes and assisted living facilities increased by 7.4% during the first quarter, or first three months, of the pandemic.
CMS: End to pandemic waivers helps nursing homes ‘redirect efforts’ to meet residents’ needs
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 08, 2022
A sweeping phase-out of early COVID-19 pandemic allowances, such as the nurse aide certification waiver, addresses concerns about SNF residents’ physical, mental and psychosocial well-being, the agency...
‘Monumental achievement’: Providers back Medicaid increases tied to staffing
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 08, 2022
Illinois nursing homes are in line for a $700 million funding increase if a Medicaid funding bill gets a key stamp of approval from lawmakers this week.
BREAKING: CMS ends nurse aide certification waiver, many other COVID-19 allowances
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 07, 2022
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is restoring training requirements for nurse aides who work at skilled nursing facilities after waiving them early during the COVID-19 crisis.
Nursing home workers to CMS leader: Press forward on accountability, wages to transform care
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 07, 2022
Nursing home workers pushed for more accountability of owners and better wages to improve the workforce in a meeting Wednesday with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure.
Call for holistic nursing home reform a ‘wake-up’ for lawmakers, stakeholders
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 07, 2022
A landmark report on American nursing homes issued Wednesday should serve as a “piercing wake-up call,” encouraging lawmakers to invest as they attempt to fix what a National Academies committee called...