Citing staffing concerns, 2 governors ask for ‘relief’ from CMS vaccine mandate
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
Feb 02, 2022
Republican governors Jim Justice of West Virginia and Glenn Youngkin of Virginia requested “relief” Monday in the form of broader exemptions from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ vaccine...
EEOC: Employers must accommodate religious objections to COVID vaccine mandates
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
Oct 27, 2021
Employers with COVID-19 vaccine mandates must accommodate workers’ “sincerely held religious beliefs, practices and observances” against such requirements unless doing so would create an “undue...
‘Break that cycle’ of low nursing home reimbursement, wages, Collins says
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
May 24, 2021
Long-term care advocates received some encouragement from Thursday’s hearing of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee’s Primary Health and Retirement Security subcommittee....
Biden administration asks Supreme Court for stay from injunctions against CMS vaccine mandate
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
Dec 20, 2021
As lawsuits mount from multiple states, the Biden administration asked the Supreme Court Thursday to reinstate nationwide the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ emergency regulation mandating...
Proposed law would enable some older workers to stay in jobs longer
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
May 12, 2021
Older Medicaid beneficiaries who are working and have disabilities no longer would need to retire at 65 to continue receiving benefits, under proposed legislation. The Supporting And Empowering the Nation...
COVID cases rise among nursing home staff, NIC says; AMDA releases new guidance
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
Jan 19, 2022
Weekly COVID-19 cases among skilled nursing home staff members and residents set new records earlier this month, according to the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care.
ME LTC workers see expected pay increases as minimum wages increase across country
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
Jan 04, 2022
Direct care workers in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities in Maine are expected to see wage increases to at least 125% of the state’s minimum wage after Gov. Janet Mills (D) announced last...
50 National Guard members activated to help Utah LTC facilities, hospitals ease staffing shortages
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
Feb 03, 2022
The Utah National Guard’s COVID-19 Joint Task Force has activated approximately 50 service members statewide, according to Tuesday’s official statement from the National Guard. The move is meant to...
Long-term care operators wait as CNA candidates encounter exam issues in PA
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
Jun 23, 2022
Prospective certified nurse aides in Pennsylvania are coming up against long wait times to schedule licensing testing and are giving up on employment in healthcare, state lawmakers were told at a public...
$1.3 million project aims to strengthen direct care workforce
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
May 05, 2022
A $1.3 million federal project, with funding spread out over five years, will establish a new center to help strengthen the direct care workforce providing home- and community-based services to older...