Patient advocates decry CMS decision on Alzheimer’s drug coverage
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 24, 2023
The Alzheimer’s Association and others have strongly criticized a decision by CMS to stand by its highly restrictive coverage for new dementia drugs.
Require COVID-19 vaccination of all healthcare workers, seven clinical groups say
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 14, 2021
Their evidence-based verdict: healthcare institutions and facilities — including long-term care facilities — should require that their personnel be vaccinated as a condition of employment.
LTC vaccinators opt to briefly halt J&J shots while awaiting FDA guidance
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 14, 2021
Long-term care pharmacies and clinicians have temporarily paused their use of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID vaccine following recommendations from health officials. Guidance is needed quickly in order to...
Flu shot and a COVID jab? New 2021-2022 flu vaccine guidance points to both
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 27, 2021
Clinicians deciding whether to give flu and COVID-19 vaccine shots together can refer to the latest CDC guidance. It states that COVID-19 shots and other vaccinations may now be co-administered “without...
WHO turns attention to fungal infections as drug resistance builds
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 26, 2022
The World Health Organization has created a first-ever priority list of fungi that it says pose the greatest emerging threats to public health.
Federal ‘all or none’ sepsis policy a wash in multi-hospital study
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 20, 2021
SEP-1 requirements meant to combat staggering sepsis rates in the U.S. did not lead to clinically meaningful patient outcomes in 11 UPMC hospitals, physician-scientists say.
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...
Are we there yet? Vaccination success won’t ease need for LTC vigilance, observers say
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 18, 2021
The need for stepped-up infection control measures likely will remain a necessity for the foreseeable future, say industry observers and stakeholders.
Medicare Advantage retaining sicker patients with more complex health needs: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 29, 2023
After years of criticism for cherry-picking healthier people for enrollment, Medicare Advantage is now holding onto more patients with chronic conditions, investigators say.
Tech guru Scott Code makes connections early
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 11, 2023
Scott Code has seen firsthand how digital technology can help support long-term care providers and keep seniors engaged.