$3T stimulus proposal calls for MFAR delay, 14% FMAP increase, $500M SNF ‘strike team’ fund
By
Danielle Brown
May 14, 2020
A Medicaid proposal that providers say could cut up to $50 billion nationwide from the program annually would be barred from being finalized during the coronavirus pandemic under a $3 trillion stimulus...
A major step forward or lacking teeth? COVID-19 report prompts range of emotions
By
Liza Berger
Sep 18, 2020
The much-anticipated report outlining COVID-19 problems in nursing homes and offering corresponding recommendations elicited a range of opinions from stakeholders Thursday.
CMS guidance bans most visitors, communal dining at nursing homes over COVID-19
By
James M. Berklan
Danielle Brown
Mar 16, 2020
Nursing homes are being directed to restrict all visitor access from its facilities as the nation works to combat and limit the spread of COVID-19. The guidance received instant support from providers...
Grim anniversary: First U.S. COVID-19 outbreak announced at nursing home 1 year ago today
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 01, 2021
Today marks the one-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 outbreak in the United States. It was announced Feb. 29, 2020, at a Kirkland, WA, nursing home and kicked off what has roundly been called the...
A potential ‘miracle’? Feds push monoclonal antibody treatments toward SNFs
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jan 19, 2021
COVID-19 monoclonal antibodies are now widely available for use by skilled nursing facilities — and early results show promise, according to long-term care pharmacy leaders.
Supreme Court denies religious challenge to NY vaccine mandate
By
James M. Berklan
Dec 14, 2021
The U.S. Supreme Court has said that New York can proceed with its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for nursing home employees and other healthcare workers even though it does not grant religious exemptions.
FDA OKs third antibody COVID therapy; variants spur new pause on another
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 01, 2021
A new COVID-19 treatment made by GlaxoSmithKline now is the third monoclonal antibody therapy federally authorized to help prevent severe disease outcomes in high-risk patients. But gene variants are interfering...
‘Absolutely unconscionable’: Just 14% of distributed vaccine doses have been administered in long-term...
By
Danielle Brown
Jan 05, 2021
New figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that less than 15% of COVID-19 vaccine doses distributed to long-term care facilities through the federal program have actually been...
BREAKING: CMS to mandate COVID vaccines for nursing home staff
By
Danielle Brown
Aug 18, 2021
Nursing homes participating in the Medicare and Medicaid programs will be required to have all staff vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to continue receiving federal funding for the programs.
CA Supreme Court backs employers in ‘take-home’ COVID case
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jul 10, 2023
Nursing homes and other employers cannot be held legally or financially responsible for preventing the spread of COVID-19 from their employees to their household members, the California Supreme Court has...