Skilled Nursing Facility

Biden administration releases COVID-19 response strategy

The Biden administration released the “National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness” on the second day in office, January 21. The strategy lays out plans to support nursing homes, and tighten infection control policies. “HHS and CMS will strengthen Long Term Care facility guidance, funding, and requirements around infection control policies; support Long …

Home Health

Biden names acting administrator for CMS

The Biden administration has named Liz Richter the acting administrator for CMS. Richter has served since 1990 and most recently served as deputy director of the Center for Medicare, according to CMS. Richter began in the Bureau of Policy Development working on inpatient hospital payment policy. She later worked on a variety of Medicare payment …

Featured Podcast

COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness

Long-term care expert Reg Hislop discusses the Biden administration’s “National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness.” Listen on SoundCloud Listen on iTunes Connect Listen on Spotify

Skilled Nursing Facility

New report finds low occupancy rates at SNFs in all 48 continental states

All 48 continental states had an occupancy rate lower than 80% in 2020, new data from CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) finds. CLA studied SNF occupancy trends across the U.S. and found that New York had the highest average occupancy in 2020 at 79%, and Texas had the lowest at 56%. The study also found that Massachusetts had …

Home Health

CGS releases checklist for redetermination submission

CGS administrators have released a checklist for redetermination submission for home health and hospice. This checklist is intended to ensure agencies provide all of the needed information in order to avoid being dismissed due to an incomplete form. To view the home health and hospice redetermination submission checklist, visit https://bit.ly/3sPZxTx. Visit the appeals/redetermination web page …

PPS Alert for Long-Term Care

Social media and safe practices

In the age of technology, a vast majority of individuals have some form of social media. Social media provides a great platform to share our lives with family and friends, but there are firm lines that cannot be crossed on social media when working in the healthcare field.