BREAKING: Nursing homes to receive 2.2% Medicare pay raise for 2021
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 31, 2020
Nursing homes will receive a Medicare pay boost for fiscal 2021, federal officials announced today.
Not so fast: Providers must check to make sure their state permits POC COVID-19 testing devices, guidance...
By
Liza Berger
Jul 31, 2020
As nursing homes wait for point-of care testing instruments and supplies to arrive from the federal government, they first should make sure they are complying with state public health guidelines regarding...
Proposal would require HHS to create nursing home strike teams for infection control
By
Danielle Brown
Jul 29, 2020
The Department of Health and Human Services would have to develop strike teams that would help nursing homes test residents for COVID-19 and assist with infection control practices under the GOP’s newly...
CMS violated federal contracting rules, OIG report finds
By
Danielle Brown
Jul 17, 2020
An investigation by a federal watchdog agency found that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services violated federal contracting rules by allowing contractors to perform government functions.
CMS to expedite review of CLIA waivers for COVID-19 point-of-care tests
By
Danielle Brown
Jul 16, 2020
Nursing homes will be required to have Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) waivers to perform COVID-19 point-of-care tests. As a result, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is working...
QIOs uncertain how newly announced CMS plans will help many nursing homes
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 16, 2020
QIOs and major provider organizations were caught off-guard by CMS’s declaration that expansive help would be provided to facilities across the country.
Verma: Feds to prioritize nursing homes with three or more COVID-19 cases for point-of-care tests
By
Liza Berger
Danielle Brown
Jul 15, 2020
The federal government will prioritize nursing homes with three or more coronavirus cases during the initial distribution of point-of-care COVID-19 tests.
Specifics of point-of-care COVID-19 testing coming to all U.S. nursing homes; providers welcome move
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 15, 2020
The federal government’s plan to provide “point-of-care” COVID-19 tests to every single U.S. nursing home is “welcome news for long-term care residents, staff and providers.”
CMS to deliver ‘point-of-care’ COVID-19 test kits to all nursing homes
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 14, 2020
Thousands of nursing homes across the country will be given “point of care” COVID-19 tests by the administration starting next week, officials announced Tuesday.
Experts make case for allowing more family-member visits in nursing homes
By
Danielle Brown
Jul 14, 2020
Long-term care facilities should reconsider their restrictive visitation policies aimed at ensuring the well-being of residents during the ongoing coronavirus crisis, according to several experts.