New federal guidance says employers can require COVID-19 vaccine giving providers ‘peace of mind’
By
Danielle Brown
Jun 02, 2021
Long-term care providers can require staff to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment, according to new guidance released late last week by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Only 64 U.S. nursing homes — 0.5 percent — had no COVID-19 outbreak the last half of 2020: GAO
By
Danielle Brown
May 20, 2021
U.S. nursing homes on average have each experienced about three COVID-19 outbreaks during the ongoing public health crisis, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office.
Providers push Congress for permanent telehealth capabilities — pandemic’s ‘silver lining’
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 29, 2021
Long-term care stakeholders are looking forward to telehealth policies remaining a “very, very hot topic” in Congress during the COVID-19 public health emergency, and beyond. Service providers say...
Nursing home supervisor could face criminal charges for working without a mask while ill, subsequent...
By
Danielle Brown
Sep 03, 2020
Criminal charges could be coming for a Connecticut nursing home supervisor accused of working without a mask despite being exposed to COVID-19. Days later, the staff member tested positive for the disease...
Providers with adequate equipment and training stay COVID-19 free: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 08, 2020
None of the 420 doctors and nurses participating in the study developed COVID-19-related symptoms or tested positive for antibodies after working in a high-risk environment.
COVID-19 costs should be baked into the SNF PPS payment structure for ‘foreseeable future,’ AHCA...
By
Danielle Brown
Jun 11, 2020
The federal government should integrate increased costs associated with COVID-19 care in the SNF PPS payment structure for the “foreseeable future” to ensure adequate reimbursement, according to the...
Sentrics offers facility hotline for COVID-19 communications
By
Kimberly Marselas
May 06, 2020
Sentrics’ Entertain360 division, which offers TV, phone and Internet services, can now provide a COVID-19 hotline to any senior living community that needs it — free of charge — during the pandemic....
Share of nursing facilities reporting staffing shortages declines
By
Danielle Brown
Mar 23, 2022
Less nursing homes are reporting at least one staffing shortage through the end of February, according to a new analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Investigation into alleged COVID-era neglect reveals previous short-staffing cover-up, prosecutors say
By
Danielle Brown
Feb 26, 2021
A criminal investigation into one Pennsylvania nursing home led to an indictment against a related facility’s former administrator, who now faces federal charges for inflating staff reports.
Feds distributing 30 million more rapid BinaxNOW tests
By
Danielle Brown
Dec 18, 2020
The Department of Health and Human Services is sending another 30 million Abbott BinaxNOW rapid tests to support vulnerable populations, including nursing homes, assisted living facilities and home health...