LTC staff to receive free behavioral health training in new federal program
By
Alicia Lasek (f3)
May 17, 2022
The new $15 million program will focus on workforce skills in an effort to strengthen behavioral healthcare delivery in long-term care facilities, HHS announced Monday.
In first nursing home visit, CMS admin gets straight talk on agencies, pay and performance
By
James M. Berklan
May 12, 2022
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure has visited nursing homes numerous times, but on Wednesday she did so for the first time in her current capacity as their top...
CMS to providers: Start phasing out COVID emergency waivers
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 29, 2022
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is warning providers to begin retiring unnecessary COVID emergency waivers as the potential end of the public health emergency declaration approaches.
New quality measure thresholds could lower providers’ star ratings, experts warn
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 28, 2022
Skilled nursing providers are worried they could see their star ratings drop following new changes to the quality measure rating threshold, according to a top expert.
Feds’ spotlight on owners could detract from patient focus, experts warn
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 21, 2022
An effort to improve transparency into nursing home ownership took a major leap forward when federal officials posted previously non-public data Wednesday. But providers and legal experts cautioned that...
Bring in religious leaders to increase nursing home accountability, experts urge CMS
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 14, 2022
A group of health quality experts is asking the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to give faith-based and other community organizations a formal role in individual nursing homes’ improvement efforts.
CMS pushes for mandatory flu vax monitoring among nursing home staff
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 13, 2022
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services wants to adopt a new quality tracker to keep tabs on influenza vaccination among healthcare personnel in skilled nursing facilities.
CMS restricts coverage of Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm to clinical trials
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 08, 2022
Coverage of aducanumab (Aduhelm) is officially limited to clinical trials only, the agency announced Thursday. Most stakeholders have called for restricted use while more efficacy and safety data is gathered,...
Providers warn of access issues as waivers near their end
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 08, 2022
Phasing out several COVID-related waivers, including one allowing temporary nurse aide training, over the next several weeks will further complicate workforce struggles, skilled nursing providers said...
CMS to pay for second booster shots for Medicare beneficiaries
By
Amy Novotney
Apr 07, 2022
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced Wednesday that it will pay for a second COVID-19 booster shot of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for all Medicare beneficiaries.