Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS has posted the nursing home COVID-19 data for the week ending April 16, 2023. Comparing the April 16, 2023 data to the April 9, 2023 data shows these changes: Resident primary vaccination completion rate remained unchanged this past week; Residents up to date with vaccines…… Continue reading Latest CMS, CDC and NHSN Nursing Home COVID-19 Data

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Updated 04/26/2023: Based on current COVID-19 trends, the Department of Health and Human Services is planning for the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19, declared under Section 319 of the Public Health Service Act, to expire at the end of the day on May 11, 2023.…… Continue reading Frequently Asked Questions: CMS Waivers, Flexibilities, and the End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare A recent study, published March 23, 2023 in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that nursing facilities who tested their staff frequently for COVID-19 had substantially fewer deaths from the disease among their vulnerable residents. During the COVID-19 pandemic, residents of skilled nursing facilities have been…… Continue reading Frequent Testing Reduced COVID-19 Deaths in Nursing Facilities 

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Please join the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for an informational event to help providers, facilities and people with Medicare prepare for the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) at midnight EDT on May 11, 2023. CMS leaders and expert staff will…… Continue reading CMS National Office Hours Call on the Ending of the COVID-19 Public Health

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS posted nursing home COVID-19 data for the week ending April 9, 2023. Comparing the April 9, 2023 data to the April 2, 2023 data shows these changes: Resident primary vaccination completion rate decreased 0.2% this past week; Residents up to date with vaccines remained the…… Continue reading Latest CMS, CDC and NHSN Nursing Home COVID-19 Data

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Friday, April 14, 2023, HHS Secretary Becerra issued this letter to U.S. Governors on renewing the COVID-19 PHE: Dear Governor: As I shared in my February 9 letter to you, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is planning for the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE)…… Continue reading Letter to U.S. Governors from HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra on Renewing COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE)

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS has posted the latest COVID-19 nursing home data for the week ending April 2, 2023. Comparing the April 2, 2023 data to the March 26, 2023 data shows these changes: Resident primary vaccination completion rate remained unchanged this past week; Residents up to date with…… Continue reading Most Recent CDC, CMS and NHSN COVID-19 Nursing Home Data

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare One year ago today, President Biden issued the Presidential Memorandumand Fact Sheet that directed the Secretary of Health and Human Services to coordinate a whole-of-government response to the longer-term effects of COVID-19, including Long COVID and associated conditions. Chaired by Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Rachel Levine, the Long…… Continue reading Progress in the Whole-of-Government Response to Long COVID Fact Sheet

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CDC has posted the latest nursing home data for the week ending March 26, 2023. Comparing the March 26, 2023 data to the March 19, 2023 data shows these changes: Resident primary vaccination completion rate decreased 0.1% again this past week; Residents up to date with vaccines…… Continue reading Latest CMS, CDC and NHSN COVID-19 Nursing Home Data

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency is set to end on May 11, 2023. Guidances and directives are ramping up for providers to this end, just as they did initially when the PHE was declared on January 31, 2020 and continued for the next 3 years. This…… Continue reading Unwinding from the PHE – Navigation Resources