White House to send COVID vaccines directly to thousands of retail pharmacies starting next week
By
Danielle Brown
Feb 03, 2021
More independent community pharmacies, including those that serve long-term care facilities, will soon be able to administer coronavirus vaccines, thanks to a new initiative launched by the federal government.
SNF residents could go to front of a booster shot line, but clinic approach needs to change, expert says
By
Danielle Brown
Alicia Lasek
Aug 09, 2021
COVID-19 booster shots are being fast-tracked for approval by federal health officials, and residents in nursing homes could be among the first to receive them.
The top long-term care news stories of 2021
By
Danielle Brown
Dec 26, 2021
Here’s a rundown of the top stories that McKnight’s Long-Term Care News readers opened over the past 12 months.
With Phase 3 guidance nearing, skilled nursing providers advised ‘don’t wait’ on infection preventionist,...
By
Kimberly Marselas
Oct 22, 2021
Final, long-awaited guidance related to nursing home Requirements of Participation may soon be here. The rules were fundamentally rewritten and implemented in three phases starting in 2016 but still have...
Most senior living facilities short on coronavirus-fighting supplies, survey finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 17, 2020
More than two-thirds of the nation’s senior living facilities report trouble sourcing equipment, particularly N95 respirators.
CMS: No test-out option for health worker vax mandate
By
James M. Berklan
Nov 05, 2021
Healthcare workers may seek a medical or religious exemption under the new emergency federal COVID-19 vaccination mandate, but a test opt-out does not exist, a top Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services...
COVID vaccine protects elderly; delivery program has buy-in from nearly all U.S. nursing homes
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 19, 2020
Fully 99% of skilled nursing facilities nationwide have signed on with the federal Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program vaccine delivery initiative, HHS says. The news arrived just as Pfizer...
Nearly 200 Connecticut providers at risk of $20K per day fines over vaccine mandate
By
Danielle Brown
Oct 19, 2021
Close to 200 Connecticut long-term care providers could be hit with fines of up to $20,000 per day for not complying with the state’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate that went into effect in late September.
Sabra operators eyeing vaccine mandate as workforce threat or recruiting tool
By
Danielle Brown
Nov 05, 2021
While just 40% of operators running facilities in the Sabra Health Care REIT issued a self-imposed COVID-19 vaccine mandate, the company reported on Thursday that 80% of its operators’ overall workforce...
CMS: ‘Won’t be long’ until more vaccination guidance is issued
By
Danielle Brown
Nov 24, 2021
Nursing home and other providers can expect follow-up guidance on the federal government’s healthcare worker COVID-19 vaccination rule, including clarification on surveyor compliance, in “a week or...