GAO report finds ‘deficiencies’ in HHS’s handling of PHEs
May 15, 2023
Over a decades’ time, these issues have affected the nation’s response not only to COVID-19, but to past public health emergencies including the H1N1 influenza pandemic and extreme weather events...
Older adults stalled by stereotypes — even at doctor’s office, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 22, 2021
Low expectations can have a powerful effect on how well older adults perform on cognitive and motor skills tests, according to a Georgia State University gerontologist.
Diabetes drug turned weight loss med spurs cost-benefit concerns for docs
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 13, 2021
The high price tag and lack of coverage for high-performing anti-obesity drug Wegovy begs the question of what the benefits of weight loss are worth to insurers and patients.
Opt-in COVID vaccine program kicks off; Feds partner with CVS, Walgreens
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 19, 2020
Long-term care facilities nationwide can voluntarily opt in to a free pharmacy partnership program that will provide and administer future COVID-19 vaccines on site, federal officials announced Friday.
CMS shares LTC booster data; coverage among residents meets national average
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 10, 2022
Nursing home booster vaccination data is now available on the Medicare.gov Care Compare website as part of CMS’s effort to help increase facility vaccination coverage, the agency said Wednesday.
CMS shares new coverage details for Alzheimer’s drug Leqembi
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 26, 2023
On the eve of an FDA decision, CMS has released new information about the detailed patient data that clinicians must provide to ensure Medicare coverage when prescribing Leqembi.
Feds must ramp up efforts against antibiotic resistance: GAO
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 27, 2023
Federal health agencies must urgently tackle key measures of a plan to curb the rising threat of antibiotic-resistant organisms, according to new testimony released by the Government Accountability Office...
Black SNF residents less likely to see ADL skills improve in post-acute stay, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 16, 2021
Black residents have significantly lower odds than white residents of improving independence in activities of daily living after hip fracture and stroke, a study of Medicare and MDS data shows.
New visitation guidance targets social isolation
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 08, 2020
Nursing home and senior living advocates have released recommendations and a toolkit to support safe visitation and ease resident isolation during the pandemic.
Standardize N95 respirators for all inpatient COVID-19 encounters, conclude analysts
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 01, 2020
N95 respirators should be required for all workers caring for COVID-19 inpatients, not only those performing aerosol-generating procedures, write the authors of a new data review.