New CMS vaccination reporting mandate could drive nursing homes to reach 75% staff goal
By
Danielle Brown
May 12, 2021
Providers say they are onboard with a new COVID-19 vaccination reporting mandate announced by federal health officials on Tuesday — calling the additional transparency “critical” for the industry...
Nursing homes face threats of citations, penalties if they restrict visitor access without good cause
By
Danielle Brown
Sep 18, 2020
Providers who fail to facilitate in-person visitations “without a reasonable clinical or safety cause” could be cited and face other penalties under new guidance issued Thursday by the Centers for...
Nursing homes with staffing shortages more susceptible to COVID-19 spread: study
By
Danielle Brown
Aug 13, 2020
Facilities with higher Five-star ratings for nurse staffing were less likely to have COVID-19 cases when compared with lower-rated providers, according to a new research letter published in the Journal...
CMS now using 14 days of data to calculate COVID-19 county positivity rate; HHS could improve nursing...
By
Danielle Brown
Sep 23, 2020
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid has modified its methodology used for classifying county-level COVID-19 data that determines how often nursing homes will have to test staff members for the disease.
BREAKING: CMS announces details of ‘unprecedented’ national nursing home training program...
By
Danielle Brown
Aug 25, 2020
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced details of “unprecedented” training for nursing homes Tuesday morning to combat the spread of COVID-19.
Feds update Section GG training series for assessment, coding
By
Danielle Brown
Oct 28, 2021
A federal training series on the assessment and coding of Section GG of the Minimum Data Set has been updated, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced Wednesday.
BREAKING: CMS finalizes therapy pay cuts in 2022 Physician Pay Rule, and extends COVID reporting period
By
Danielle Brown
James M. Berklan
Nov 02, 2021
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services finalized a 15% payment reduction for physical and occupational therapy assistants, and extended temporary telehealth services added to Medicare during the...
BREAKING: CMS resumes routine inspections for nursing home providers
By
Danielle Brown
Aug 17, 2020
After nearly five months, federal officials disclosed Monday that they are resuming routine inspections for all Medicare- and Medicaid-certified providers and suppliers.
Nursing home workers to CMS leader: Press forward on accountability, wages to transform care
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 07, 2022
Nursing home workers pushed for more accountability of owners and better wages to improve the workforce in a meeting Wednesday with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure.
CMS no longer requiring surveyors to be fully vaccinated in order to inspect facilities
By
Danielle Brown
Jun 17, 2022
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has rescinded guidance that says surveyors who are not fully vaccinated shouldn’t participate on the onsite survey team when inspecting certified providers.