Countering industry claims that COVID infection rates in nursing facilities are largely a matter of geography, Bloomberg Law reports that five nursing facilities within 25 miles of the Nashville city center, operated by the New Jersey-based CareRite … [Read more...] about Nursing Facilities and COVID: Staffing Matters
SNF Staffing
Members of Congress Write CMS Urging Restoration of Nurse Aide Training Requirements for Nursing Facilities
In an October 30, 2020 letter, Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D, TX) and colleagues asked Seema Verma, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), to promptly reinstate nurse aide training requirements that have been … [Read more...] about Members of Congress Write CMS Urging Restoration of Nurse Aide Training Requirements for Nursing Facilities
Provider Relief Funds: Care for Patients or Boosting Provider Revenues?
Despite nursing facilities’ reporting severe shortages of nursing staff and personal protective equipment,[1] the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has revised federal policy to allow health care providers, including nursing facilities, … [Read more...] about Provider Relief Funds: Care for Patients or Boosting Provider Revenues?
Long-Term Care Policy: Trump vs. Biden
The Center for Medicare Advocacy offers the following comparison of the presidential campaigns’ long-term care policies. For the Biden campaign, the Center looks at the Democratic Party’s 2020 platform,[1] the official campaign website,[2] … [Read more...] about Long-Term Care Policy: Trump vs. Biden
Paying Direct Care Workers a Living Wage
Recognizing that the coronavirus pandemic “brings into sharp focus the risks to people’s health that follow from low pay for direct care professionals,” LeadingAge, the trade association of not-for-profit health and social services providers, has … [Read more...] about Paying Direct Care Workers a Living Wage
Study Finds Lower Mortality Rates in Unionized New York State Nursing Facilities
An analysis of nursing facilities in New York State finds that, compared to facilities without labor unions, facilities with unions had:A 30% lower morality rate from COVID-19A 42% “relative decrease in COVID-19 infection rates” among … [Read more...] about Study Finds Lower Mortality Rates in Unionized New York State Nursing Facilities
Nursing Homes Nationwide Report Shortages of Nursing Staff
Last week, CMA released an Alert reporting on four recent studies that found a positive correlation between nurse staffing levels and improved nursing home performance in containing COVID-19 cases and deaths. Nursing homes in every state, along with … [Read more...] about Nursing Homes Nationwide Report Shortages of Nursing Staff
Studies Find Higher Nurse Staffing Levels in Nursing Facilities Are Correlated With Better Containment Of Covid-19
Four recent studies using different databases, criteria, dates, and states all confirm that nursing facilities that have more nurses are more successful in containing coronavirus cases and deaths among residents than facilities with lower nurse … [Read more...] about Studies Find Higher Nurse Staffing Levels in Nursing Facilities Are Correlated With Better Containment Of Covid-19
CMS Will Not Track Minimally Trained Aides at Nursing Facilities
Since March 20, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has waived the requirement, set out in the Medicare and Medicaid statutes and regulations, that restrict nursing facilities from using nurse aides for more than four months … [Read more...] about CMS Will Not Track Minimally Trained Aides at Nursing Facilities
Who’s Providing Care to Nursing Home Residents?
Under the federal Nursing Home Reform Law (1987), nurse aides may not work for more than four months unless they are trained in a training program of at least 75 hours and determined to be competent.[1] On March 20, 2020, as part of a long list of … [Read more...] about Who’s Providing Care to Nursing Home Residents?