‘Audits are back,’ and COVID-19 care is in the hot seat
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 21, 2021
Flexibilities granted to providers during the ongoing public health emergency are likely to result in increased medical reviews and automated denials, a therapy billing specialist is warning.
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...
Stop-gap licensing waivers offer promise for nurse staffing crisis
By
Kimberly Marselas
Aug 02, 2022
Maintaining relaxed licensing regulations could be a key way to address the nation’s ongoing nurse staffing crisis and improve access to care, suggests a new Health Affairs study.
Minimum staffing requirements, higher Medicaid funding for nursing home workforce highlight new bill
By
Danielle Brown
Aug 11, 2021
Nursing homes would be required to meet minimum staffing standards but also receive additional Medicaid funds to support workforce and care improvements under federal legislation introduced Tuesday.
CMS, OIG agree on increasing scrutiny of psychotropic drug use
By
Joe Bush
Nov 18, 2022
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will be increasing its oversight of the use of psychotropic drugs to pay closer attention to certain classes, warned the lead author of a federal report identifying...
Providers demand federal action as temporary nurse aide waiver comes to an end
By
Danielle Brown
Jun 06, 2022
The federal government must take permanent action to address the long-term care workforce shortage as providers brace themselves for severe consequences following the end of the temporary nurse aide waiver...
White House announces big nursing home COVID-19 vaccination push and providers push back
By
Joe Bush
Nov 23, 2022
The Biden administration on Tuesday announced a six-week $475 million campaign to raise the COVID-19 vaccination rate among nursing home residents, and the sector’s leaders responded immediately with...
AMDA calls for public list of nursing home industry’s ‘underutilized’ and ‘invisible’ medical...
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 07, 2022
President Biden’s call for nursing home reform must extend to the industry’s clinical leadership as well, a top clinician advocate contends. A public directory would be a step toward transparency...
Recruiting firms help SNFs address turnover due to COVID-19
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 22, 2020
With long-standing turnover issues already plaguing the industry, recruiting companies are encouraging providers to rethink hiring and retention efforts to stave off potential crises during the coronavirus...
BREAKING: CMS to mandate COVID vaccines for nursing home staff
By
Danielle Brown
Aug 18, 2021
Nursing homes participating in the Medicare and Medicaid programs will be required to have all staff vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to continue receiving federal funding for the programs.