The nation’s second largest nursing home association doesn’t expect the long-term care industry to see a mass exodus of workers if more providers enact COVID-19 vaccine mandates for its employees. In fact, the group expects the number of workers leaving to drop if more operators join in.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday released new guidance that allows fully vaccinated nursing home residents to resume dining activities and in-room visits without masking or social distancing restrictions.
Long-term care leaders and industry advocates “marched” alongside certified nursing assistants Wednesday in a push for better pay and support for them.
The Care For Our Seniors Act, put forth by the AHCA and LeadingAge, seeks to address systemic issues in the nursing home sector that have been laid bare during the pandemic, including infection control deficits and inconsistent clinical care quality.
Leading long-term care industry advocates are eyeing a registered nurse staffing requirement and enhanced Medicaid funding under a set of “bold” reform measures aimed at improving that long-term care system.
“Facilities should allow responsible indoor visitation at all times” — no matter the vaccination status of resident or visitor, the agency now says. Its action follows the remarkable, apparent success of COVID vaccinations in slowing resident transmission rates.
State and federal officials are being urged to ease visitation restrictions as COVID-19 vaccinations continue and cases fall among residents.
Long-term care providers are calling on the federal government to remove regulations that base nursing home indoor visitations on COVID-19 positivity rates in the area now that vaccine coverage is widespread for facilities.
The federal government began sending $1.1 billion in coronavirus relief funding to nursing homes this week to help providers cope with lost revenues and increased expenses caused by the pandemic.
More than two-thirds of eligible nursing homes will receive incentive payments this week for successfully reducing COVID-related infections and deaths between September and October.
