All 2024-2025 flu vaccines in the United States will be trivalent (three-component) vaccines. Trivalent U.S. flu vaccines will include vaccine viruses or viral proteins from one influenza A(H1N1) virus, one influenza A(H3N2) virus, and one influenza B/Victoria lineage virus. They will not include an influenza B/Yamagata lineage vaccine virus or viral protein component.     LEARN MORE

In response to active exploitation of a cybersecurity vulnerability, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released an update to the joint advisory #StopRansomware: ALPHV Blackcat to provide new indicators of compromise (IOCs) and tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) associated with the…… Continue reading Message from HHS about an ongoing active cybersecurity threat to your IT resources

February is recognized as American Heart Month. It is a time to raise awareness about heart disease and related health issues. With a healthy heart, you can do more of what you love — but it’s not always easy to break old habits or make healthy changes. The “Heart-Healthy Steps” campaign encourages adults, particularly those…… Continue reading February is American Heart Month!

January 26, 2024 – Today CDC posted new data that show the proportion of people hospitalized with flu this season in one CDC surveillance system who also have at least one chronic medical condition. Overall, among people hospitalized with flu, about 90% had a least one chronic medical condition. This is consistent with historical data. Annual flu vaccination…… Continue reading People with Chronic Medical Conditions Continue to Account for The Majority of Flu Hospitalizations This Season

National Activity Professionals Week – January 22 – 26, 2024 Activity Professionals play an important role by providing engaging, life-enriching experiences for nursing home residents.  They are key to your organization providing patient-centered care and improving overall quality of life. Be sure to take a moment to recognize and thank your Activities Professionals for all that…… Continue reading Every Smile Makes a Difference

The draft Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Item Sets version (v)1.19.1 and Item Matrix are now available in the Downloads section on the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) Manual page. The MDS Item Sets v1.19.1 will be effective beginning October 01, 2024.

Updated Guidance for Healthcare Providers on Increased Supply of Nirsevimab to Protect Young Children from Severe Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) during the 2023–2024 Respiratory Virus Season — On October 23, 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory 499 to provide guidance for prioritization of nirsevimab given limited supply. Nirsevimab (Beyfortus, Sanofi and AstraZeneca)…… Continue reading Healthcare Quality and Worker Safety Information

It contains changes to the list of State RAI Coordinators, MDS Automation Coordinators, and CMS locations and contacts. Click here to download. To ensure accurate formatting, use a current version of Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this PDF. Web-based or mobile browser plug-ins may affect how the file is displayed.

SummaryThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to alert healthcare providers to low vaccination rates against influenza, COVID-19, and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). Low vaccination rates, coupled with ongoing increases in national and international respiratory disease activity caused by multiple pathogens, including influenza viruses, SARS-CoV-2…… Continue reading Urgent Need to Increase Immunization Coverage for Influenza, COVID-19, and RSV and Use of Authorized/Approved Therapeutics in the Setting of Increased Respiratory Disease Activity During the 2023 – 2024 Winter Season