The United States is facing the biggest surge of COVID-19 cases to date. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on Tuesday, January 11, there were 797,216 new cases of the disease.[1] To put this into context, during the … [Read more...] about Skyrocketing COVID-19 Cases Lead to Hospital Struggles Across the Nation
COVID-19
CMS Again Revises Visitation Guidance in Nursing Facilities
In March 2020, at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) barred visitors from nursing facilities. Since then, it has issued multiple revisions to its guidance. On November 12, … [Read more...] about CMS Again Revises Visitation Guidance in Nursing Facilities
U.S. Supreme Court Will Hear Appeals of Vaccination Mandate for Health Care Providers on January 7; CMS Moves Ahead on Mandate in States Not Under Injunction
On November 5, 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published interim final rules with comment requiring workers at health care providers and suppliers to be vaccinated against COVID-19.[1] Attorneys General in four states … [Read more...] about U.S. Supreme Court Will Hear Appeals of Vaccination Mandate for Health Care Providers on January 7; CMS Moves Ahead on Mandate in States Not Under Injunction
Vaccination of Nursing Home Staff Correlated with Fewer Cases and Deaths among Residents
Analyzing vaccination rates among staff in nursing facilities as of June 13, 2021, researchers find that nursing facilities with the lowest quartile (25%) staff vaccination rates had higher numbers of cases and deaths among residents than nursing … [Read more...] about Vaccination of Nursing Home Staff Correlated with Fewer Cases and Deaths among Residents
Courts Order Preliminary Injunctions Against Vaccination Mandate for Medicare and Medicaid Providers and Suppliers
In an interim final rule with comment published November 5, 2021,[1] the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) required 21 specified Medicare- and Medicaid-certified providers and suppliers to require their staff to receive the first … [Read more...] about Courts Order Preliminary Injunctions Against Vaccination Mandate for Medicare and Medicaid Providers and Suppliers
Report: Telehealth Use by Medicare Beneficiaries Increases Over 6,000% in 2020
In March 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) increased access to Medicare telehealth services with the aim of reducing travel that beneficiaries would have to make in order to get to in-person doctor visits and, therefore, … [Read more...] about Report: Telehealth Use by Medicare Beneficiaries Increases Over 6,000% in 2020
Updated Factsheet | CMS Nursing Home Visitation Guidance
Since approximately 86% of nursing home residents and 74% of staff at those facilities in the United States are vaccinated[1], the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has revised its COVID-19 nursing home visitation guidelines.[2] The … [Read more...] about Updated Factsheet | CMS Nursing Home Visitation Guidance
Connecticut Begins Penalizing Long-Term Care Facilities Failing to Comply with Governor’s Vaccine Mandate
The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) announced it is issuing the first round of civil penalties to long-term care facilities failing to comply with Governor Ned Lamont’s Executive Order 13F requiring all long-term care facility staff … [Read more...] about Connecticut Begins Penalizing Long-Term Care Facilities Failing to Comply with Governor’s Vaccine Mandate
Affirmed: Negligence and Wrongful Death Cases Against Nursing Homes During COVID-19 Pandemic Belong in State Court
Declaring “There is no COVID-19 exception to federalism,” the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court’s dismissal of two negligence and wrongful death cases that nursing home defendants had moved from state court to federal court. … [Read more...] about Affirmed: Negligence and Wrongful Death Cases Against Nursing Homes During COVID-19 Pandemic Belong in State Court
COVID Delays Cause Inequities in Cancer Outcomes
A recent Washington Post article calls attention to another tragic Covid-19 related health disparity: delayed cancer screenings during the pandemic have exacerbated health inequities in cancer outcomes for communities of color. The article, “Covid … [Read more...] about COVID Delays Cause Inequities in Cancer Outcomes