Republican version of stimulus bill likely to include liability reform
By
Liza Berger
Jul 26, 2020
Although the Republicans’ version of the latest stimulus bill is still in the works, it likely will include liability reform measures and an extension of telehealth reimbursement policies.
As U.S. death toll from coronavirus mounts, so does mortality in long-term care
By
Liza Berger
Jul 26, 2020
The U.S. death toll from the novel coronavirus has surpassed 145,000, and the number of cases now has topped 4 million, as transmission surges around the country, according to news reports. Total...
Media should stay positive when it comes to seniors
By
Herb Hildebrandt, Ph.D, Hl.D.
Jul 24, 2020
Headlines during the time of COVID-19 foretell more semantic warmth for the elderly than I have ever read and heard before. That is the underlying tone of my following remarks. Changes in tone Negative...
HHS renews public health emergency, allowing waivers, Medicaid increase to remain in play
By
Liza Berger
Jul 24, 2020
With the expiration of the public health emergency declaration just two days away, the federal government on Thursday renewed the declaration for the pandemic, a welcome move for long-term care providers. ...
Also in the News for Friday, July 24
By
Liza Berger
Jul 24, 2020
Federal government now requires providers to account for how they spent COVID-19 relief funds … New York Legislature expected to pass bill limiting nursing home immunity … Pennsylvania health department...
Exhale, with love
By
Gary Tetz
Jul 23, 2020
How are those masks working out for you? My glasses are as perpetually fogged as a car windshield after prom, and I do enjoy sounding like Charlie Brown’s teacher.
Even with pledge of additional $5B in COVID-19 relief, providers say more needed
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 23, 2020
Top nursing home leaders late Wednesday praised the administration’s promise of $5 billion in additional funding to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus. But nearly with their next breath, they...
Point-of-care tests offer more flexibility for facilities, but implementation may pose problems, experts...
By
Liza Berger
Jul 23, 2020
The new coronavirus point-of-care testing program unveiled by the government, while not perfect, offers an opportunity for long-term care facilities to swiftly identify those residents, staff or family...
COVID-19 cases likely 10 times higher than reported, yet immune response low, CDC finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 23, 2020
A study of more than 16,000 American blood samples found many more estimated COVID-19 infections than reported in official case counts. Antibodies to the virus were scarce, however.
Isolate for 10 days after positive COVID-19 test, health officials now say
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 23, 2020
A new symptom-based strategy aims to end “unnecessary prolonged isolation” for people diagnosed with COVID-19 — and to help relieve pressure on overburdened diagnostic labs, says the CDC.