Feds’ proposal to extend COVID-19 waivers would keep some telehealth expansions but could deliver rehab...
By
James M. Berklan
Aug 04, 2020
As expected and hoped for by many healthcare providers, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Monday proposed permanently adopting some telehealth and therapy coverage expansions during the COVID-19...
Lab tests for COVID-19 ‘nearly useless’ again due to slow turnaround times: Genesis CMO
By
Liza Berger
Aug 04, 2020
Due to the slow lab turnaround times for COVID-19 tests, delivery of point-of-care diagnostic testing instruments and tests from the federal government comes at the right time. That’s the word from the...
‘The system failed’: Experts lay plans for reforming long-term care after pandemic
By
Danielle Brown
Aug 04, 2020
Now is the opportunity for providers, policymakers and other stakeholders to aggressively reform the long-term services and supports system after its underlying weaknesses were exposed under pandemic conditions,...
Governor vetoes bill that would have prohibited COVID-19 patients from nursing homes
By
Danielle Brown
Aug 04, 2020
Michigan’s governor has vetoed a bill that would have required coronavirus patients to be placed only into separate, COVID-only facilities and not nursing homes.
Juniper CEO: Restoring ‘new normal’ in senior living is about COVID lessons learned
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Aug 03, 2020
Juniper Communities created an early COVID-19 battle plan using cohorting and universal testing. Today the majority of its communities are testing 100% negative for the virus, says founder and CEO Lynne...
Not so fast: Providers must check to make sure their state permits POC COVID-19 testing devices, guidance...
By
Liza Berger
Jul 31, 2020
As nursing homes wait for point-of care testing instruments and supplies to arrive from the federal government, they first should make sure they are complying with state public health guidelines regarding...
Feds to reimburse providers for counseling patients to self-isolate
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 31, 2020
Existing E/M codes can be used to bill for counseling patients about virus mitigation at the time of COVID-19 testing, according to CMS and the CDC.
‘We have been in a fight for our lives’: Providers spending hundreds of thousands on testing, PPE
By
Danielle Brown
Jul 30, 2020
Long-term care providers took their complaints about lack of pandemic support to new heights Wednesday as they urged lawmakers to push for additional resources for operators as the next coronavirus relief...
From residents to rock stars: Nursing home recreates iconic album covers
By
Danielle Brown
Jul 30, 2020
An English nursing home transformed residents into world famous rock stars and musicians as a way to keep them entertained while being on coronavirus lockdown for the past four months due.
Useless PPE befitting federal nursing home neglect
By
Brendan Williams
Jul 29, 2020
According to Paraprofessional Health Institute data, there were 581,000 nursing assistants working in nursing homes in 2018. Their median wage was just $13.38 an hour. Ninety-two percent were women,...