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,...
Skilled nursing operators must exploit PDPM better during pandemic: CLA analysis
By
Danielle Brown
Oct 16, 2020
Skilled nursing operators would be remiss to forget about the opportunities the Patient Driven Payment Model presents during the ongoing public health emergency, according to a new industry report. Most...
CMS will pay more to labs that process COVID-19 tests quicker starting Jan. 1
By
Danielle Brown
Oct 16, 2020
Laboratories that process coronavirus diagnostic tests within two calendar days will receive a higher Medicare reimbursement than those that take longer, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced...
Verma: CMS to ensure free COVID vaccine for seniors, Medicaid beneficiaries
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 16, 2020
The agency has a plan to expedite the new coverage and will provide more information before the end of October, Verma said. CMS is also working on appropriate Medicare fees for administration of potential...
Providers receive reprieve on advanced Medicare loan repayments
By
Danielle Brown
Oct 09, 2020
Providers who participated in the Medicare Accelerated and Advanced Payment Program for COVID-19 emergency will now have another year to pay back the loan thanks to Congress.
Parkinson, former CMS chief agree: ‘Nightmare’ COVID-19 a chance for providers to learn, improve
By
James M. Berklan
Oct 07, 2020
COVID-19 has been a “clinical nightmare and a business disaster” but also can be an outstanding learning opportunity, leaders said Tuesday.
Judge rules nursing home residents can vote by video, while CMS emphasizes that providers must ensure...
By
Danielle Brown
Oct 07, 2020
The Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services this week is reminding providers that they must ensure nursing home residents are able to exercise their right to vote during the upcoming presidential election...
‘Confounded’ providers urge mandated COVID-19 testing for hospital workers, surveyors
By
James M. Berklan
Oct 01, 2020
Healthcare stakeholders who regularly come into contact with skilled nursing residents should be subject to COVID-19 testing mandates similar to those for nursing home employees, a prominent long-term...
CMS seeks to ease COVID staff testing burden on rural operators
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 01, 2020
Some nursing homes have been required to conduct staff testing at a higher frequency than necessary, the agency said in explaining recent changes to its testing methodology.
‘An American tragedy’: 11 nursing home residents died every hour in July and August, Dem report finds
By
Danielle Brown
Sep 24, 2020
Two Democratic senators are demanding a better response to COVID-19 in nursing homes from the federal government after an analysis found that more than 16,800 residents and workers died of the disease...