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COVID-19/Coronavirus

One incontestable pandemic truth
One incontestable pandemic truth
By
Gary Tetz
Dec 02, 2021

Though I strongly support the concept of gratefulness, I’m not much for delivering public speeches about it, even to close friends or family around the Thanksgiving table. Truth be told, I generally…

Most immunosuppressive meds not tied to worse COVID-19 outcomes
Most immunosuppressive meds not tied to worse COVID-19 outcomes
Dec 01, 2021

Except for rituximab, no increased risk seen for in-hospital death or mechanical ventilation for those on long-term immunosuppressive therapy

Regeneron says its antibody cocktail likely weakened by omicron variant
Regeneron says its antibody cocktail likely weakened by omicron variant
Nov 30, 2021

No direct data yet available testing the new variant’s resistance to immunity from monoclonal antibodies and vaccines

Payment

Something’s got to give…
Something’s got to give…
By
Neville M. Bilimoria
Dec 01, 2021

I read recently that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is back at it again.  Instead of reasonably mandating surveyors be vaccinated, just as CMS has required nursing homes to be vaccinated,…

CMS to nursing homes: Enjoy the holidays but stay vigilant
CMS to nursing homes: Enjoy the holidays but stay vigilant
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 24, 2021

CMS has suggestions on how to handle visitation while keeping infection control and prevention principles top of mind during the holidays.

The top lessons learned from the AHCA’s 2021 Convention and Expo
The top lessons learned from the AHCA’s 2021 Convention and Expo
By
Tamar Abell
Nov 05, 2021

Attending the American Health Care Association’s (AHCA) 2021 Convention and Expo this year felt like reuniting with friends after spending two years on the frontline of a battlefield.   The…

Policy

Providers told to prepare for Monday’s vaccine deadline despite mandate injunction
Providers told to prepare for Monday’s vaccine deadline despite mandate injunction
By
Danielle Brown
Dec 02, 2021

Meeting Monday’s first-shot deadline for the federal government’s healthcare worker vaccine mandate is in nursing homes’ best interests, despite a temporary injunction that halted the rule nationwide…

CMS guidance on healthcare worker rule stuck amid legal challenges
CMS guidance on healthcare worker rule stuck amid legal challenges
By
Danielle Brown
Dec 02, 2021

Further guidance on the federal government’s healthcare worker COVID-19 vaccine rule that was expected to be issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services within the next two weeks could be…

Judge slaps nationwide freeze on healthcare worker COVID vax mandate
Judge slaps nationwide freeze on healthcare worker COVID vax mandate
By
James M. Berklan
Dec 01, 2021

A Louisiana federal judge on Tuesday granted a preliminary injunction against the Biden administration’s mandate that says all healthcare workers involved in the Medicare or Medicaid programs must be…

Clinical Updates

COVID-19 vaccination poses no risk of serious adverse events to elderly, large study finds
COVID-19 vaccination poses no risk of serious adverse events to elderly, large study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 29, 2021

People aged 75 years and older have zero risk of serious adverse cardiovascular events after vaccination with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, a new national study has found.

Ambulatory BP monitoring detects stealth hypotensive episodes in LTC residents: study
Ambulatory BP monitoring detects stealth hypotensive episodes in LTC residents: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 23, 2021

Ambulatory monitoring may catch dangerous blood pressure changes that present in atypical ways and may not be reported by long-term care residents with dementia, investigators have found.

Workforce Issues

These nursing homes face even bigger wage-setting challenge
These nursing homes face even bigger wage-setting challenge
By
Kimberly Marselas
Dec 02, 2021

For months, provider organizations have been bemoaning the costs of relying on temporary staff that eat up limited, taxpayer-supported Medicare and Medicaid dollars.

Learn how to adapt staffing strategies during Sept. 23 webinar
Learn how to adapt staffing strategies during Sept. 23 webinar
By
Kimberly Marselas
Sep 01, 2021

Experienced workforce professionals will share their latest take on managing labor shortages during a Sept. 23 McKnight’s webinar.

States would get more funding to expand long-term care workforce under new proposal
States would get more funding to expand long-term care workforce under new proposal
By
Danielle Brown
Aug 26, 2021

States and long-term care providers would receive additional funding to hire and retain workers under a new measure proposed by Democratic lawmakers.