In an effort to combat the spread of the virus and to help nursing homes protect the health and safety of their residents, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is distributing SARS-CoV-2 antigen...
More than 3,000 nursing homes earn top rating from U.S. News & World Report
By
Danielle Brown
Oct 27, 2020
Good staffing measures and patient outcomes were among the common denominators for the more than 3,200 facilities ranked as top providers in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Nursing Homes ratings.
Also in the News for Tuesday, Oct. 27
Oct 27, 2020
HHS expands types of providers that can apply for Phase 3 Provider Relief Fund payments … Feds clarify how LTC workers will receive COVID-19 vaccines, payment options for vaccine distribution program...
‘We want more tests, not less’: HHS doubles down on COVID antigen testing
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 27, 2020
Testing is critical to keeping the coronavirus in check in long-term care facilities as U.S. case counts trend back upward, said Adm. Brett Giroir, M.D. Federal agencies continue to deliver antigen tests...
LTC, community pharmacies vie for role in federal COVID vaccine initiative
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 23, 2020
Nursing home and assisted living operators should talk with their existing pharmacy provider about their capability to participate in the federal government’s new COVID-19 vaccine delivery program,...
Rural seniors with dementia have longer nursing home stays, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 23, 2020
Rural Medicare recipients with Alzheimer’s and related dementias have longer nursing home stays and shorter survival time following diagnosis than their urban peers, investigators say.
Prepare now for upcoming COVID testing, reporting rules and new penalties
By
Amy Wilmot Schrader
Stefanie J. Doyle
Oct 22, 2020
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ wide-ranging rule bolstering its regulatory authority to address issues relating to the COVID-19 public health emergency contains two notable directives...
‘Urgent hiring initiative’ to combat nursing home worker shortage would pay aides up to $25 per hour
By
Danielle Brown
Oct 22, 2020
The state of Minnesota has launched an “urgent hiring initiative” to help long-term care facilities struggling with staffing amid a rise in COVID-19 cases, top officials announced this week.
Filling the continuum of care gap in the COVID-19 era
By
Mark Fritz
Oct 20, 2020
Since the pandemic began, one thing has become abundantly apparent: There is a gap in the continuum of care for our nation’s most vulnerable patients. All too often, medically complex 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.