Simultaneous flu and COVID shots work well in older adults, new study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 16, 2021
Given together, the vaccines are safe and spur a robust antibody response, a first-of-its-kind trial finds.
CMS edicts bring tougher survey conditions to nursing homes
By
Danielle Brown
Nov 15, 2021
More oversight is coming for nursing home providers after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services directed surveyors to take a more critical look at nurse competency and residents’ quality of care...
Movement to cap nurse-agency pay rates advances in another state
By
Kimberly Marselas
Nov 15, 2021
Lawmakers could introduce legislation as early as this week that would regulate temporary staffing agencies and set maximum pay rates for agency healthcare personnel in Pennsylvania.
Delirium present in 60 percent of residents’ acute illnesses, but tricky to diagnose: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 15, 2021
Delirium may accompany 60% of the acute illnesses and adverse health events that occur commonly among residents, investigators say. Along with infections, regular use of benzodiazepines was linked to the...
BREAKING: CMS increases oversight of nursing home survey process and expands nursing home visitation...
By
Kimberly Marselas
Danielle Brown
Nov 12, 2021
Nursing homes should allow visitation for residents “at all times,” while state surveyors received steps on how to address a backlog of complaint and recertification surveys under two separate memos...
COVID vaccine mandate will survive legal challenges, experts believe
By
Kimberly Marselas
Danielle Brown
Nov 10, 2021
The Biden administration is confident that legal challenges to its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers will ultimately fail, and legal experts are largely in agreement. As a result, they are...
Free LTC infection prevention tool from Yale aims to help nursing home staff save time
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 09, 2021
A one-stop set of infection prevention resources is meant to make work a bit easier for direct care providers, administrators, managers and support staff, say the Yale School of Nursing and the New York...
CMS urges: Start reviewing, planning and tracking staff COVID vaccinations now
By
Danielle Brown
Nov 08, 2021
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is calling on providers to immediately start reviewing the newly proposed healthcare worker COVID-19 vaccination regulation. They also should actually begin...
BREAKING: CMS says all healthcare staff must be fully vaccinated by Jan. 4
By
Danielle Brown
Nov 04, 2021
Long-term care staff must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Jan. 4 under a new healthcare worker vaccination rule released early Thursday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Drug pricing reform deal may allow Medicare to negotiate with drug firms for first time
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 04, 2021
The Democrats’ deal also would limit insulin costs and cap annual out-of-pocket spending at $2,000 for seniors. Pharmacy benefit managers would face transparency requirements as well.