The solution to nursing homes’ COVID-19 testing shortages
By
James M. Berklan
Aug 14, 2020
Fret no more. I’ve figured out how to get plenty of COVID-19 testing to take place at nursing homes. The federal government may have wished for more testing of residents and workers, but my plan has...
Provider groups develop heat map to aid coronavirus response; FEMA to deliver PPE
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 29, 2020
A newly-developed heat map of coronavirus cases in U.S. nursing homes and assisted living facilities will help to prioritize much-needed personal protective equipment and testing supplies for hard-hit...
BREAKING: Supreme Court speeds vax mandates to Jan. 7 hearing
By
James M. Berklan
Dec 22, 2021
The U.S. Supreme Court took the unusual step of announcing Wednesday night that it would hear arguments over the administration’s COVID-19 worker vaccine mandate on Jan. 7, three days before it was originally...
This year’s new tripledemic: COVID-19, flu and RSV
By
Kristen Fischer
Jul 25, 2023
It’s going to be a pretty busy cold, flu and respiratory syncytial virus season, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COVID-19 is on the rise now, a year after the country...
Pressure mounting on CMS to exclude COVID vaccination data in quality reporting
By
Danielle Brown
Jun 18, 2021
More long-term care stakeholders are calling on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to ditch its proposal to expand the Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program to include staff COVID-19...
Surgeon general rings alarm over healthcare worker burnout
By
Diane Eastabrook
May 26, 2022
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murphy has proposed an action plan to address what he called a crisis of burnout and mental health issues among healthcare providers.
BREAKING: CMS ends nurse aide certification waiver, many other COVID-19 allowances
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 07, 2022
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is restoring training requirements for nurse aides who work at skilled nursing facilities after waiving them early during the COVID-19 crisis.
A warning if you accepted Provider Relief Funds: Prepare to be audited
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jan 20, 2022
Skilled nursing providers who accepted Provider Relief Funds should prepare for widespread audits by later this year.
State has first plan to continue nursing home COVID vaccinations after federal program runs out
By
Danielle Brown
Feb 11, 2021
Ohio long-term care providers looking to vaccinate residents and staff against COVID-19 after the three clinics offered through the federal program will be able to do so under a new initiative announced...
Grabowski: Too many loopholes in federal vaccine mandate may retain staff, but endanger residents
By
Kimberly Marselas
Aug 24, 2021
Federal officials might pursue a regional approach or offer exemptions in finalizing a nursing home staff vaccination mandate, but it’s important they not water down the regulations so much as to undermine...