The Government Accountability Office (GAO) this week issued a report examining skilled nursing facility (SNF) performance on staffing measures, CMS reporting of staffing information on Care Compare, and Medicare payments for critical incidents. Based on its analysis, GAO recommended that Congress should consider directing the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to implement appropriate payment reductions for SNFs that generate Medicare spending on potentially preventable critical incidents, primarily hospital readmissions occurring within 30 days of the SNF admission

The submission deadline for the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF), Long-Term Care Hospital (LTCH), and Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Programs is approaching.

With Governor Baker’s announcement last week mandating that all long term care staff be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 10th and the new delta variant quickly spreading in the United States, it is more important than ever to increase staff vaccination rates in long term care. To view this AHCA webinar recording on how to boost your staff vaccination rates, please click here. AHCA member login required.

As our country is once again experiencing an increase in coronavirus cases, it is imperative that we rally together to protect our most vulnerable populations. Please join AHCA/NCAL, LeadingAge, Direct Supply, Argentum, ASHA, and other leading industry leaders and professionals to learn more about the state of the virus from world-renowned medical expert and immunologist Dr. Deborah Birx. During this webinar, ​learn about the current state of this deadly virus and the actions that must be taken to fight against highly contagious COVID-19 variants.

Concern over the COVID-19 delta variant and recent outbreaks in long term care facilities has Rhode joining a growing list of states including Connecticut, California, New Jersey, and Washington mandating COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment for all long term care workers. Other states including Maryland and Illinois have announced vaccine mandates for state employees working in state-operated congregate living facilities and have encouraged private employers to do the same. In addition to states, major cities including Denver, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. have announced vaccine mandates for all nursing facility workers.

The next DPH monthly call with providers is scheduled for Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at 11:00 a.m.

Concern over the COVID-19 delta variant and recent outbreaks in long term care facilities has Connecticut, California, New Jersey, and Washington join a growing list of states mandating COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment for all long term care workers.

MassHealth today issued an updated HPPD Staff Reporting Bulletin informing nursing homes that at the end of July facilities will no longer need to report staffing information to CHIA.

The NHSN announced new changes coming this fall to the Health Care Personnel COVID-19 Vaccination Cumulative Summary, the IRS updated its Frequently Asked Questions on the paid sick and family leave tax credits under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, AHCA webinar on boosting staff vaccination rates, and Massachusetts Virtual Job Fair through the MassHire system from August 16-20, 10AM-2PM each day.