News

CMS Returning to Certain Pre-COVID-19 Policies in Long-term Care and Other Facilities

April 8, 2022 — CMS is taking steps to continue to protect nursing home residents’ health and safety by announcing guidance that restores certain minimum standards for compliance with CMS requirements. Restoring these standards will be accomplished by phasing out some temporary emergency declaration waivers that have been in effect throughout the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). These temporary... Read More

CMS Finalizes Medicare Coverage Policy for Monoclonal Antibodies Directed Against Amyloid for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease

April 8, 2022 — Decision Follows Robust Stakeholder Input and Creates Pathway for Enhanced Access and Coverage of Drugs that Receive Traditional FDA Approval On April 7, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a national policy for coverage of aducanumab (brand name Aduhelm™) and any future monoclonal antibodies directed against amyloid approved by the FDA with... Read More

CMS Revises Nursing Home Visitation Guidance to Include “Up-to-Date” Vaccination Status

March 16, 2022 — QSO-20-39-NH: Nursing Home Visitation -COVID-19 Memorandum Summary CMS is committed to continuing to take critical steps to ensure America’s healthcare facilities are prepared to respond to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency (PHE). Visitation Guidance: CMS is issuing new guidance for visitation in nursing homes during the COVID-19 PHE, including the impact of... Read More

CMS Revised Interpretive Guidance on Vaccine Mandate Interim Final Rule

March 16, 2022 — CMS has released revised interpretive guidance for the COVID-19 vaccine mandate interim final rule (IFR). Three memoranda have been updated, including QSO-22-07-ALL-Revised, QSO-22-09-ALL-Revised, and QSO-22-11-ALL-Revised. The revisions were made to clarify the expectations for assessing compliance with the requirement to ensure all staff are vaccinated. AHCA/NCAL has highlighted key revisions, but providers are encouraged to... Read More

CMS Updates Nursing Home Vistation Guidance FAQ

February 3, 2022 — On February 2, 2022, CMS updated its visitation guidance FAQ, stressing that facilities must permit visitation regardless of visitor’s vaccination status “if the visitor does not report COVID-19 symptoms or meet the criteria for quarantine.” The FAQ includes new recommendations for improving ventilation and air quality to help reduce risk of spread. These recommendations include:... Read More

National Guard CNA Program to Address Workforce Shortage, Championed by DHCFA

January 11, 2022 — DHCFA joined with the Delaware Hospital Association to advocate for training National Guard as CNAs to address the workforce crisis in long-term care, using a model program that has been successful in Minnesota. The governor authorized this program in the state of emergency. National Guard will receive classroom training at Delaware Technical and Community College,... Read More

Governor Carney Issues State of Emergency in Response to Winter Surge

January 11, 2022 — In response to burgeoning COVID-19 cases in the state, Governor John Carney declared a state of emergency for Delaware effective  January 3 at 5 pm. The declaration gives the Delaware Division of Public Health and Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) the power to make, amend, and rescind orders, rules, and regulations under Title 16 for... Read More

CMS to Begin Posting Staffing Data on Medicare.gov Compare Care Website

January 11, 2022 — On Friday, January 7, 2022, CMS announced that it will begin posting the following information for each nursing home on the Medicare.gov Care Compare website: Weekend Staffing: The level of total nurse and registered nurse (RN) staffing on weekends provided by each nursing home over a quarter. Staff Turnover: The percent of nursing staff and... Read More

CMS Issues Visitation FAQ Amid Winter Surge; Mechanism for Pause

January 4, 2022 — As the Omicron-inflused Winter Surge has caused a steep climb in COVID-19 cases, CMS issued a visitation FAQ that provides a mechanism for a pause in rare outbreak situations. CMS reminded nursing homes that visitation is a patient right, and they must: Adhere to the core principles of infection prevention, especially wearing a mask, performing... Read More
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