Alzheimer’s blood biomarkers not ready for primary care use, expert panel decides
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 18, 2022
An international group of clinicians and researchers have agreed that Alzheimer’s disease blood biomarkers are a significant breakthrough, but are not yet ready for general clinical and primary care...
Staff buy-in key to reducing ED visits with telemedicine, senior living study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 23, 2021
An attempt to reduce unnecessary emergency department visits with telemedicine triage failed when senior living healthcare providers were not on board. The findings contain lessons for for clinicians and...
Facilities urged to conserve dwindling medical supplies as pandemic persists
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 19, 2020
One in five eldercare facilities will run out of masks, gowns and other PPE if current supplies aren’t carefully conserved, says AHCA / NCAL.
New dashboard to track ‘Long COVID’ cases for healthcare planning
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 25, 2021
The dashboard will track state and county level statistics and trends. The goal is to provide data to healthcare decision makers as they prepare to care for patients with lingering symptoms, says the American...
CMS restricts coverage of Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm to clinical trials
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 08, 2022
Coverage of aducanumab (Aduhelm) is officially limited to clinical trials only, the agency announced Thursday. Most stakeholders have called for restricted use while more efficacy and safety data is gathered,...
CDC: Boosted nursing home residents 10 times less likely to be infected with COVID-19
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 17, 2021
The news, delivered by CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, is a bit of cheer amidst other new evidence that COVID-19 cases are increasing among fully vaccinated long-term care residents.
Educating neurologists, using telehealth improves outcomes in Parkinson’s
By
Kristen Fischer
Nov 14, 2023
A new study looks at palliative care for people living with Parkinson’s disease and related disorders and found that educating neurologists and using telehealth is feasible to improve outcomes for people...
Eli Lilly expects Medicare about-face on Alzheimer’s drugs coverage
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 23, 2023
New data on Lilly’s experimental drug donanemab may influence CMS’s restrictive stance on coverage of this and other amyloid-busting Alzheimer’s treatments, a company executive says.
VHA to cover new Alzheimer’s drug Leqembi, despite CMS’s restraint
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 14, 2023
The Veterans Health Administration will provide coverage for the recently approved drug lecanemab (Leqembi) to qualified veterans with early Alzheimer’s disease. It’s a surprise move considering...
AHCA/NCAL to CMS: Safeguard temporary nurse aide jobs by reissuing employment waiver
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 04, 2022
The industry advocate is urging CMS to reissue a blanket waiver that would allow nursing homes to employ temporary nurse aides beyond the public health emergency.