‘A win-win:’ MedPAC officially makes recommendation to replace SNF VBP with new incentive model
By
Danielle Brown
Jun 17, 2021
A proposal by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission to replace the current value-based purchasing program for skilled nursing facilities with a more equitable, value-incentive model would be a “win-win”...
Also in the News for Thursday, June 17
Jun 17, 2021
Controversial New York order caused more COVID-19 deaths among nursing home residents … San Francisco will require nursing home workers to be fully vaccinated … Judge approves $15M settlement in infamous...
Clinical briefs for Wednesday, June 16
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 16, 2021
NIH spotlights promising nasal spray antibody treatment for COVID … Anticoagulation therapy linked to lower COVID death rates: study … Spurned LTC pharmacies push again to receive Provider Relief Funds...
Brain implants continue to reduce Parkinson’s motor symptoms 15 years later
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 11, 2021
The amount of time study participants experienced dyskinesia was reduced by 75%, and use of levodopa was reduced by 51% — long after deep brain stimulation devices were implanted.
New workplace COVID safety rules add protection and reporting requirements
By
Kimberly Marselas
Diane Eastabrook
Jun 11, 2021
Fifteen months after the start of the pandemic, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Thursday issued an emergency temporary standard designed to protect healthcare workers — specifically...
Risk-bearing execs: Operators need to ‘make some noise’ to make some money
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jun 10, 2021
Skilled nursing providers looking to take on risk for long-term viability need to start getting creative, warn two executives in the business of connecting payers and providers in value-based partnerships.
Operator changes plan: will wait for full FDA approval to enforce COVID vaccination deadline for staff
By
Danielle Brown
Jun 10, 2021
An Ohio skilled nursing and assisted living operator now plans to wait until the COVID-19 vaccinations receive full federal approval before enforcing its inoculation mandate on employees after listening...
FDA allows injections, reduced dose of COVID monoclonal antibody therapy
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 08, 2021
An effective but arguably underused COVID-19 monoclonal antibody therapy now may be more accessible for long-term care facilities that aren’t equipped to deliver intravenous infusions.
Large VA study reveals ease of COVID-19 transmission among unvaccinated healthcare staff
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 07, 2021
Investigators found nearly 20 times the rate of COVID-19 infection in unvaccinated healthcare staff, plus signs that transmission clusters were linked to those workers.
Providers tell CMS it’s ‘decidedly’ the wrong time to toy with PDPM rates
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jun 03, 2021
Providers need more time before the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services would implement any adjustments to PDPM payment rates, operators and associations have told the agency in official comments.