Only 4 states have hit 75 percent LTC staff vaccination goal, new CMS data reveal
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 30, 2021
States that have achieved the industry’s June 30 goal are Hawaii, Vermont, Alaska and California, with staff member vaccination rates ranging from 83% to 75%. By contrast, the lowest-ranked state...
‘Balance has tipped’: It’s time to ease up on visitation regulations, nursing homes tell feds
By
Danielle Brown
Feb 25, 2021
Long-term care providers are calling on the federal government to remove regulations that base nursing home indoor visitations on COVID-19 positivity rates in the area now that vaccine coverage is widespread...
CMS opens visitation to nursing homes after year of isolation
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 11, 2021
“Facilities should allow responsible indoor visitation at all times” — no matter the vaccination status of resident or visitor, the agency now says. Its action follows the remarkable, apparent...
Nursing home coalition moves forward with 9 plans to fix the sector
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Jul 19, 2023
A national coalition focused on improving the quality of care and life in nursing homes on Tuesday rolled out its nine action plans for the sector.
CDC guidance on post-vaccination plans at nursing homes could come this week; J&J pause not expected...
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 22, 2021
Federal officials said more infection control and prevention guidance regarding COVID-19 could be coming for nursing homes in the next several days. They also said they don’t expect the pause of Johnson...
CMS to delay MDS 3.0 because of worries over system updates
Mar 05, 2009
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is planning to delay the implementation of Minimum Data Set 3.0 for one year because of concerns that there is not enough time to adequately prepare systems...
Foresight and flexibility the keys to COVID-19 survival, top exec says
By
James M. Berklan
May 04, 2020
As long-term care providers continue to struggle with the deadly implications of COVID-19, hesitation could be their biggest threat, says one of the profession’s top leaders.
CMS finalizes rule streamlining Medicaid enrollment and renewals
By
Josh Henreckson
Mar 28, 2024
Federal officials on Wednesday issued a new final rule that helps seniors better navigate the Medicaid enrollment process, and that’s likely very good news for long-term care providers.
Brooks-LaSure: Medicare poised to re-evaluate coverage of new Alzheimer’s drugs
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 12, 2022
In a Milken Institute summit session, the CMS administrator said that Medicare’s door is open to evaluating new data on emerging Alzheimer’s drug candidates.
Mandated minimum staffing would cost nursing homes $10 billion annually
By
Danielle Brown
Jul 20, 2022
Providers would have to spend an additional $10 billion more per year and hire more than 187,000 new workers to meet requirements of one possible federal minimum staffing approach, according to a new analysis.