CMS provides guide to streamline process to receive COVID-19 test kits
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Sep 29, 2020
The federal government has released new tools meant to reduce paperwork and streamline the certification application process for assisted living providers seeking Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments...
$100 billion should be added to Provider Relief Fund for coronavirus-related needs, industry groups say
By
Lois A. Bowers
Sep 29, 2020
Congress should pass another COVID-19 funding package, adding $100 billion to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Provider Relief Fund, maintain the American Health Care Association / National...
‘Living wage’ would benefit 75 percent of direct care workforce: LeadingAge report
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Sep 23, 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the role of the country’s 3.5 million direct care workers on the front lines of the public health crisis, but those workers are undervalued and face barriers...
CMS considering different reimbursement strategies for COVID-19 tests
By
Danielle Brown
Sep 18, 2020
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services could change the way it pays for COVID-19 tests, a top federal health official suggested this week. The move would come just months after the agency doubled...
New laws address long-term care workforce wages, infectious disease preparedness
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Sep 18, 2020
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has signed a legislative package meant to address issues in the long-term care industry, including wages for frontline workers and response coordination for infectious disease...
CMS evaluating outcomes-based reimbursement strategies for COVID-19 tests
By
Amy Novotney
Sep 17, 2020
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is investigating a new outcomes-based reimbursement strategy for COVID-19 tests, according to an InsideHealthPolicy report. CMS Administrator Seema Verma said...
Senior living industry concerned as Nebraska drops mask and distancing mandates
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Sep 14, 2020
Beginning today, nearly all of Nebraska’s social distancing restrictions will end as Gov. Pete Ricketts moves the state into the fourth phase of its reopening plan.
COVID-19 SNF staff testing costs could hit $15K per week
By
Danielle Brown
Sep 14, 2020
It could cost larger nursing homes up to $15,000 per week to comply with new COVID-19 testing requirements from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for staff members, according to a report released...
Sunday is deadline for assisted living operators to submit relief fund applications
By
Lois A. Bowers
Sep 11, 2020
Sunday is the deadline for assisted living operators and all others applying for funding under the Provider Relief Fund phase 2 general distribution allocation to begin the application process by submitting...
Beware of compliance obligations when accepting provider relief funds, attorney says
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Sep 10, 2020
The federal government answered the call for relief earlier this month when it deemed that assisted living providers now are eligible for provider relief funds. But that relief comes with some pretty significant...