Focus on part-time assignments to improve SNF care consistency, researchers advise
By
Kimberly Marselas
Dec 21, 2022
Nursing homes that prioritize building schedules around part-time workers can significantly improve consistency of care by potentially reducing how many nursing assistants care for each resident.
Why CMS is shifting its infection control focus to sepsis
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 11, 2024
BALTIMORE — Quality experts at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will be taking a closer look at sepsis rates in nursing homes while continuing broader efforts to improve infection control,...
Providers: CMS should first fortify skilled nursing workforce before imposing minimum staffing measures
By
Danielle Brown
Jun 07, 2022
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must first help the long-term care industry build up its workforce before implementing a national minimum staffing standard for nursing homes, many providers...
CMS doubles down: Surveyors do not have to be COVID vaccinated
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 07, 2022
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has held audiences with skilled nursing providers, made presentations and entertained comments in recent months to assure operators that regulatory actions...
White House to extend PHE designation through April, reports say
By
James M. Berklan
Nov 14, 2022
The federal government will extend the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration until at least April, according to published reports.
Providers worried about CMS pace on new MDS materials
By
James M. Berklan
Dec 09, 2022
Skilled nursing operators were happily surprised in September with an early draft of MDS revisions, but ever since it’s been a slog getting more information.
Danger ahead?: SNFs face potentially steep cuts as CMS considers changes to PDPM, VBP program
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 12, 2021
A recalibration to the Patient Driven Payment Model could have troubling payment implications for skilled nursing providers who are still trying to manage a difficult operating environment caused by the...
Senate bill to block nursing home staffing mandate introduced
By
Kimberly Marselas
Dec 06, 2023
Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) officially introduced a bill late Tuesday aiming to block the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services from implementing its proposed nursing home staffing mandate.
BREAKING: Feds partner with CVS, Walgreens to provide pending COVID-19 vaccinations to all senior care...
By
James M. Berklan
Oct 16, 2020
Residents and workers of all long-term care settings will receive free vaccinations against the coronavirus onsite under a special public-private partnership with pharmaceutical giants CVS and Walgreens,...
More nursing home cuts buried deep in CMS physician fee schedule
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jul 12, 2022
Healthcare providers, including doctors and physicians who treat nursing home patients, continue to find more troubling details in the 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.