Nursing homes criticize CMS chest-thumping about $15.5M pandemic fines, severe citations
By
James M. Berklan
Aug 17, 2020
Nursing home operators were left shaking their heads and criticizing the Trump administration over the weekend after the latter touted larger than usual numbers of serious citations and fine amounts against...
CMS unveils new tool for public to compare nursing home vaccination rates
By
Danielle Brown
Sep 21, 2021
Individual nursing homes’ COVID-19 vaccination rates are more subject to public comparisons thanks to a new tool from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The goal is to make previously available...
‘An American tragedy’: 11 nursing home residents died every hour in July and August, Dem report finds
By
Danielle Brown
Sep 24, 2020
Two Democratic senators are demanding a better response to COVID-19 in nursing homes from the federal government after an analysis found that more than 16,800 residents and workers died of the disease...
CMS issues additional FAQs on Provider Relief Fund for Medicare providers
By
Danielle Brown
Aug 31, 2020
Providers should not offset their expenses on the Medicare Cost Report based on the relief fund payments they’ve received. That’s according to a newly released document from the Centers for Medicare...
Verma: Feds to prioritize nursing homes with three or more COVID-19 cases for point-of-care tests
By
Liza Berger
Danielle Brown
Jul 15, 2020
The federal government will prioritize nursing homes with three or more coronavirus cases during the initial distribution of point-of-care COVID-19 tests.
CMS reducing vaccine mandate compliance surveys
By
Danielle Brown
Jun 16, 2022
Inspectors for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will no longer check for provider compliance with the staff COVID-19 vaccine mandate during all surveys.
With new CDC guidance, providers duck ‘up-to-date’ vaccination concerns
By
Kimberly Marselas
Sep 27, 2022
While masking and screening of nursing home workers and visitors may no longer be required in areas with lower COVID-19 transmission rates, vaccination and testing efforts will be crucial if providers...
Feds ramp up COVID-19 testing efforts at nursing homes with release of 750k more POC supplies
By
Danielle Brown
Sep 09, 2020
Nursing homes in areas with the high COVID-19 positivity rates will be receiving another point-of-care testing option from the federal government starting next week.
Latest federal mandate denial sets stage for possible Supreme Court appeal
By
Kimberly Marselas
Dec 15, 2021
The battle over a federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers is primed for its Supreme Court debut, now that a federal appeals court has ruled a temporary injunction should remain in place.
CMS ‘game-changer’ doubles pay on COVID-19 testing at nursing homes
By
James M. Berklan
Apr 16, 2020
High-volume labs that test for COVID-19 at nursing homes are going to reap double the amount of pay under a new policy announced Wednesday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.