The Exit of the CNA: Mandate or Me—What Now?

With the introduction of the vaccine mandate for nursing home employees, many organizational leaders fear staff, especially certified nursing assistants (CNAs), will quit rather than get the vaccine. This week, several industry experts have voiced concerns about the potential for a mass exit of CNAs, questioning how facilities can continue …

Intramuscular Injections—Best Practices for Safe Vaccine Administration (8/21)

This Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) resource on best practices for safe vaccine administration is intended to support experienced vaccinators and others administering the COVID-19 vaccine to nursing home residents and staff. The Intramuscular Injections: Best Practices for Safe Vaccine Administration in Nursing Homes resource offers guidance before, during and …

OIG: COVID-19 Had Devastating Impact on Medicare Beneficiaries in LTC During 2020 (6/21)

(OEI-02-20-00490) This data snapshot showed the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Medicare beneficiaries in U.S. nursing homes in 2020. It provides objective, standardized data based on Medicare claims for beneficiaries in nursing homes throughout the country. Until this data snapshot, data on the number of nursing home residents …

COVID-19 Diagnosis Coding Guidance Timeline for Auditing Claims Diagnosis Coding Tool

Recently, CMS resumed medical reviews for Medicare claims for dates of service after March 2020; however, it may be difficult for facility staff to audit COVID-19-related diagnoses due to how frequently guidance was updated from February 2020 through January 1, 2021. AAPACN’s COVID-19 Diagnosis Coding Guidance Timeline for Auditing Claims …

AHRQ Guide for Building COVID-19 Vaccine Trust and Increasing Vaccination Rates Among CNAs (5/21)

Invest in Trust: A Guide for Building COVID-19 Vaccine Trust Among Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) is designed to help nursing home leaders build COVID-19 vaccine confidence among CNAs and overcome barriers to vaccination by applying insights from social, behavioral and cognitive science.  The guide sheds light on CNAs’ reasons for not …

COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness Among Health Care Workers and Other Front-Line Workers (4/21)

Interim Estimates of Vaccine Effectiveness of BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 COVID-19 Vaccines in Preventing SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Health Care Personnel, First Responders, and Other Essential and Frontline Workers — Eight U.S. Locations, December 2020–March 2021   Weekly / April 2, 2021 / 70(13);495–500 Summary   What is already known about this topic? …

COVID-19 Discharges: Keys to Preventing Hospital Readmissions

While data on hospital readmissions of skilled nursing facility (SNF) residents who have had COVID-19 following SNF discharge currently remains scarce, at least one study indicates the need for careful management of the discharge planning process for these residents. Discharge to a SNF from the acute-care hospital, age greater than …

Visiting Loved Ones in a Nursing Home – English and Spanish Graphic Available (3/21)

On March 10, 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), issued updated guidance for nursing homes to safely expand visitation options during the COVID-19 pandemic public health emergency (PHE). Today, CMS is releasing a graphic to further explain the expanded …

Updated Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations in Response to COVID-19 Vaccination (3/21)

Updated Mar. 10, 2021 Find the most recent update here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/infection-control-after-vaccination.html CDC guidance for SARS-CoV-2 infection may be adapted by state and local health departments to respond to rapidly changing local circumstances. On this page Visitation Work restriction for asymptomatic healthcare personnel and quarantine for asymptomatic patients and residents SARS-CoV-2 Testing …

Consolidated Appropriations and Coronavirus Relief Act: Impact on SNF Part A Services (2/21)

  Full text:  https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/133/text   Sections addressing SNF VBP changes and access to services for hemophilia residents:   SEC. 111. IMPROVING MEASUREMENTS UNDER THE SKILLED NURSING FACILITY VALUE-BASED PURCHASING PROGRAM UNDER THE MEDICARE PROGRAM.       (a) In General.–Section 1888(h) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395yy(h)) is amended–         …