| Skilled Nursing Facility Occupancy Rates Hit New Low Before Vaccines Took Hold | <p>December 2020 occupancy rates for nursing homes fell to 71.7 percent, the lowest level since data have been collected, according to the latest NIC MAP® Data Service (NIC MAP) report, provided by the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC). </p><p>Occupancy declined 13.3 percentage points since February 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic took hold.</p><p>NIC experts acknowledge that skilled nursing occupancy has been hit hard by COVID-19. However, the latest numbers do not account for recent efforts to vaccinate skilled nursing patients and frontline health care workers, who are at greater risk than the general population of contracting the virus.</p><p>“New COVID-19 cases and mortalities are dropping steadily due to the vaccine’s reach and effectiveness in skilled nursing settings,” said Beth Burnham Mace, NIC’s chief economist. “As vaccination rates rise, occupancy rates are likely to increase in the coming months.”</p><p>According to NIC’s <a href="https://www.nic.org/snf-covid-tracker">Skilled Nursing COVID-19 Tracker, </a>from Dec. 20, 2020, to Feb. 14, 2021, <a href="https://blog.nic.org/per-resident-rate-of-covid-19-infections-reaches-pandemic-record-low-point-as-case-counts-continue-to-dip">new weekly confirmed cases of COVID-19 </a>in skilled nursing facilities fell 89 percent, while new cases nationwide declined 59 percent over the same period.</p><p>These numbers are nearly identical to the latest data on COVID cases announced by the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), which show that nursing homes have seen an 82 percent decline in new cases among residents since the peak during the week of Dec. 20, 2020, when there were more than 30,000 new resident cases.</p><p>In the same period, community cases in the general population dropped by 46 percent, showcasing that vaccines are having an impact in protecting the elderly population in nursing homes, AHCA/NCAL said.</p><p>Even with vaccinations beginning to bring the crisis in skilled nursing facilities to an end, NIC said it is uncertain if all facilities will be able to sustain their financial well-being without help.</p><p>“Federal government support was essential last year for many skilled nursing facilities to continue to serve patients,” said Bill Kauffman, senior principal at NIC. “Whether all skilled nursing facilities can remain financially sustainable going forward will depend in part on additional governmental support as part of COVID relief and how quickly the bounce back in occupancy will occur.”</p><p>Click <a href="https://info.nic.org/nic-map-skilled-nursing-data-monthly-report">here </a>to access the latest skilled nursing data.<br></p> | 2021-03-05T05:00:00Z | <img alt="" src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/0620_News3.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | COVID-19;Caregiving | In the new year, numbers of new COVID cases have dropped steadily in both nursing homes and the general population. |
| CMS Data Show 82 Percent Drop in Nursing Home COVID Cases | <p>A report released on March 2 said nursing homes have seen the lowest number of new COVID-19 cases since the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) started tracking back in May 2020, suggesting that the vaccines are working, according to the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL).</p><p>Recent CMS data show that nursing homes have seen an 82 percent decline in new COVID cases among residents since the peak during the week of Dec. 20, 2020, when there were more than 30,000 new resident cases.</p><p>In the same period, community cases in the general population dropped by 46 percent, showcasing that vaccines are having an impact in protecting the elderly population in nursing homes, AHCA/NCAL said.</p><p>“We still have a long road ahead, but these numbers are incredibly encouraging and a major morale booster for frontline caregivers who have been working tirelessly every day for a year to protect our residents,” said Mark Parkinson, president and chief executive officer of AHCA/NCAL. </p><p>“These new data showcase just how important it is for nursing homes residents and staff, as well as the general public, to get the vaccine because it is clearly working.”</p><p>The report also said cases have dropped to the lowest level since CMS started tracking weekly COVID cases in nursing homes last May.<br>Along with the lowest number of new cases, COVID-related deaths in nursing homes declined by 63 percent since Dec. 20, 2020.</p><p>“Though this report brings hope, we cannot let our guard down. We must continue to encourage folks to get vaccinated, especially caregivers and staff,” Parkinson said.</p><p>“Public health officials must also continue to ensure that long term care residents and staff remain the highest priority for accessing the vaccine, as the on-site clinics with CVS, Walgreens, and other pharmacy partners are coming to a close.”</p><p>Another top priority, he added, is the AHCA/NCAL call for the Biden administration to review its current guidance to nursing homes on restricting visitors and group activities.</p><p>“With millions of residents and caregivers now fully protected thanks to the vaccines, residents must be able to safely reengage in meaningful activities and be reunited with their loved ones,” Parkinson said.</p><p>In December, AHCA/NCAL launched <a href="https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Pages/GetVaccinated.aspx">#GetVaccinated,</a> a nationwide campaign to encourage all long term care residents, families, and staff members to consent to the vaccine as well as provide credible information to help inform their decision. Last week, AHCA/NCAL also <a href="https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Press-Releases/Pages/Nursing-Homes-Set-Goal-To-Get-75-Percent-Of-Staff-Vaccinated-By-June-30.aspx">announced</a> the nationwide goal of getting 75 percent of all long term staff vaccinated by June 30.</p> | 2021-03-02T05:00:00Z | <img alt="" src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/senior_woman_doc_1.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | COVID-19;Caregiving | A simultaneous 46 percent drop in local community cases shows that vaccines are having an impact in protecting the nursing home population. |
| Nursing Homes Unveil New Goal to Have 75 Percent of Staff Vaccinated by June 30 | <p>With evidence COVID-19 vaccinations are helping to drive down infections in nursing homes and other long term care settings, the American Health Care Association (AHCA) and LeadingAge are upping the ante by announcing a new nationwide goal of getting 75 percent of the approximately 1.5 million nursing home staff vaccinated by June 30.</p><p>Working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the industry leaders said now is the time to act even bolder on staff vaccinations.</p><p>“With COVID-19 vaccinations being distributed across long term care facilities over the past two months, we have already seen a decline in cases in nursing homes, indicating that the vaccines are working,” said Mark Parkinson, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of AHCA. </p><p>“Many of our staff continue to be excited about the vaccines and the hope they represent, but some caregivers still have questions,” he said. “We are continuing to inform our staff about the credibility and safety of the vaccines through our #GetVaccinated campaign, and we hope this goal will further encourage more of our staff members to get the vaccine.” </p><p>In December, AHCA said it launched <a href="https://www.ahcancal.org/News-and-Communications/Pages/GetVaccinated.aspx">#GetVaccinated ,</a> a national campaign aimed at encouraging all long term care residents, families, and staff members to consent to the vaccine as well as provide credible information to help inform their decision. </p><p>“Achieving a high rate of staff vaccinations will be a game changer for nursing homes. Real progress has been made in vaccinating nursing home residents. Now we must also achieve high rates of staff vaccinations,” said Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO of LeadingAge. </p><p>“It’s critical to acknowledge the reasons for vaccine hesitancy are real and varied, and staff concerns must be understood and thoughtfully addressed as we work toward this goal. LeadingAge is committed to doing all we can with our partners and the [Biden] administration to ensure staff at our mission-driven members—at nursing homes and other care settings—have the information, conversations, and support they need to get vaccinated.” </p><p>LeadingAge, in partnership with the <a href="https://blackcoalitionagainstcovid.org/">Black Coalition Against COVID </a>(BCAC), is sponsoring a national town hall on March 4 to address concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine among all levels of staff working in aging services communities. </p><p>The association also regularly <a href="https://leadingage.org/covid-19-vaccine-information-and-resources">shares important vaccine resources </a>and hosts special webinars to connect members with experts on vaccine education. </p><p>According to a preliminary <a href="https://www.ahcancal.org/Data-and-Research/Center-for-HPE/Documents/CHPE-Report-Vaccine-Effectiveness-Feb2021.pdf">analysis, </a>COVID cases decreased at a faster rate among nursing homes that had completed their first vaccine clinic, compared to those nearby that had not yet administered the vaccine in the first month of the vaccine rollout. Recent Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) data show cases and deaths in nursing homes are declining rapidly, which indicates the vaccines are reducing the spread of the virus, according to AHCA. </p><p>“We look forward to working with President Biden’s administration and the CDC to make this goal happen,” Parkinson said. </p><p>“We cannot chance slowing the positive progress we have already made. Long term care facilities have been at the forefront of the pandemic since the beginning, and our staff care for some of the most susceptible to the virus, making it even more imperative that their caregivers get vaccinated,” he said.</p><p>“The sooner we can get more of our staff vaccinated, the sooner we will be able to defeat this deadly virus.”</p> | 2021-02-25T05:00:00Z | <img alt="" src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/mask_4.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | COVID-19;Caregiving | CMS data show cases and deaths in nursing homes are declining rapidly, which indicates the vaccines are helping drive down infections. |
| Data Show Drastic Drop in COVID Cases in Long Term Care Facilities | <p>COVID-19 cases in nursing homes, assisted living communities, and other long term care settings have dropped dramatically over the past two months, and new evidence shows the positive turn of events is directly related to the widespread vaccinations of residents and staff.</p><p>Recent data from the COVID Tracking Project, which includes residents in nursing homes, assisted living, and related settings, combined with nursing home-specific information from the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), depict a virus in retreat. </p><p>For example, the Tracking Project numbers show that for the Feb. 18 week, U.S. long term care providers had 9,674 cases of coronavirus in their buildings. This number compares with 19,814 cases for the week of Feb. 11, 28,642 cases for the week of Feb. 4, and 50,131 cases the week of Jan. 28.</p><p>A December 2020 peak saw more than 72,000 cases reported in long term care, the data show.</p><p>As for the number of buildings experiencing an outbreak, for the week of Feb. 18, the Tracking Project said 139 facilities saw new COVID outbreaks. This compares to early and mid-January levels of more than 1,100 to 1,400 facilities recording new infections.</p><p>National media have noticed the trend, with a report in Axios on Feb. 23 noting that the large declines in long term care infections are tied to the vaccination program spearheaded by the federal government that has seen some 4.5 million residents or staff of nursing homes get at least one vaccination dose thus far. </p><p>As for weekly deaths from COVID, Tracking Project data show 4,239 lives lost in long term care facilities for the week of Feb. 18 (including new deaths from Indiana and Ohio that were not previously recorded from long term care) versus late January when nearly 11,000 deaths per week were seen.</p><p>For nursing homes only, AHCA/NCAL’s Dashboard, which updates COVID cases and trends, shows that for the most recent week of complete data (Jan. 31) new resident cases have declined by 67 percent since their high point from a month ago (Dec. 20) from more than 30,000 new resident cases to 11,000 cases. Deaths have also declined by 47 percent in the same time frame.</p><p>Added to these new statistics is a report from Scotland that the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine reduced COVID-related hospitalizations among the elderly by 85 percent. Further, the study said the AstraZeneca (Oxford) vaccine cut seniors' hospitalizations by 94 percent. The AstraZeneca vaccine is not yet available in the United States.</p><p>According to Axios, Scottish researchers analyzed a broader data set covering the entire Scottish population of 5.4 million, of which 1.1 million people have received a first dose of the Pfizer or Oxford vaccines. Then, they compared the vaccinated with unvaccinated, “and they saw strong evidence of protection,” the report said.</p><p>From December until mid-February, around 8,000 people ended up in the hospital with COVID in Scotland, but only 58 of those individuals came from the vaccinated group.</p><p>See the COVID Tracking Project data at <a href="https://covidtracking.com/nursing-homes-long-term-care-facilities?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosvitals&stream=top">https://covidtracking.com/nursing-homes-long-term-care-facilities?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosvitals&stream=top </a>and AHCA/NCAL Dashboard at <a href="https://www.ahcancal.org/Data-and-Research/Pages/default.aspx#covid-dashboard">https://www.ahcancal.org/Data-and-Research/Pages/default.aspx#covid-dashboard.</a></p> | 2021-02-23T05:00:00Z | <img alt="" src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/0220_News1.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | COVID-19;Caregiving | New evidence shows the positive turn of events is directly related to widespread vaccinations of residents and staff. |
| Analysis Sees $94 Billion in Industry Losses Over Two Years | <p>The American Health Care
Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) released new <a href="https://app.bitdam.com/api/v1.0/links/rewrite_click/?rewrite_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZXdyaXRlX2lkIjoiNjAyNTRhODc0NTczYmIxMGQxYzQ4ODg2IiwidXJsIjoiIiwib3JnYW5pemF0aW9uX2lkIjo0NzAwfQ.8ST5zW4uXRgZao_tmzFlGZG25Dv2XJz8ENPDrj2mw8M&url=http://links.ahca.org/u/click?_t%3D3abc5280edfa42b5905fbea7c0fff5c2%26_m%3D3689a0bc6d554bdda168a419a86d26b0%26_e%3Dti-NXvu8dkFNc4NHqlPXNTt0dFNg-Hlduw17X7KW6nFTMhlUW65HfuC1vZPAElT3j8_UJoHH7zfQ1gDRLVQxsYdyI92FW-O_6ybQLqd9lGfkPtJ3giqj5yF3CFB1nmsyPmfhAmV94FAkcApZI0HNADwS3VCjXPnXlo23BiTj486o5e9PIYohFbdgPV01W-ddI0o5A5DHD35t9JWQzy5SEP9eRElu8VmME_YtzwVkYk5kIWTSDFxuJ_BxI4uwuFpzHe7W-DOZyyqdRCkteWQEyP81Pu_WnM2o0RsskcL5LWNwDzGdROEp0GPisFyLbnvDAVqemil8iV6wqfoQLarFWjbUPPd_59JimwMKrC8ye0MjnV0GVmlWvEIlOfjOAts-s_ywiVvbS3Oxj7D15-ZAfwdCqfv-wDfU77d5mUPsR8h2bGkmFSga2bkJb85JSSqquNEuvGZGEBg8zgXlcCQ8rq5dOl0j6fk1zVO2obdi9Sc1G71XXIRZmZqsBq3ZTHjwZhzlnG4UdG2dZ_d0SSgFEDRRdUPrjav5M-yKZx-y2arCspYv3GUT2yMbw1t0FAjYps9N5Ms8pamQwMD-X9y8o14nTLfw54atCb1BxjWcRpQmnm-htzFizQdo_x5axph1ki-J67Uq3tzRIx0hHQLyzuFwVaFRrBaFH_Xe0ZLAG8UAaQK9cfbKZ_myRHwW2HOQRZuiSUSprMGxdjcL5MfWlTFTfDUoJbkMBuo75PhzqpD9CX66Lx8T4S0Ji_XpyNCQg7ZOv86OVO5mxV1XKHTjCkV999vySNFttbHBFA8zqyrctPf448AaSHs3Clo0FRUoaBqLU_ivwqdRZm4ywL5U5FxNid1g8J1PYasomO2lScSZuftxo9MBV3wzWjOe2uUh">analysis </a>that estimates the long term care
industry will lose $94 billion over a two-year period (2020-2021) as a result
of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated increased costs and lost business
that the pandemic has wrought. </p><p>Nursing homes spend roughly $30
billion on personal protective equipment (PPE) and additional staffing alone,
the report said. In addition to increased expenditures, long term care
facilities have suffered a sharp decline in occupancy—a situation AHCA/NCAL
President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Parkinson called a “business
nightmare.” </p><p>“In three short months, we’ve
gone from 71 percent to 67 percent [occupancy] … We need census to recover at a
rate of about 1 percent a month, and while that doesn’t sound like a lot, it’s
not as easy as it might seem … If the census doesn’t recover at all, or recover
slower than that, the sector has a real problem,” he said. <br>
<br>
The same AHCA/NCAL analysis estimated that without immediate assistance, more
than 1,600 nursing homes could close in 2021—more than 10 times the number of
facilities that closed last year. The average nursing home has the capacity to
serve approximately 100 residents. <br>
<br>
Emmett Reed, executive director of the Florida Health Care Association, also <a href="https://app.bitdam.com/api/v1.0/links/rewrite_click/?rewrite_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZXdyaXRlX2lkIjoiNjAyNTRhODdkNjI1NTU4Zjc2MWQ4ODljIiwidXJsIjoiIiwib3JnYW5pemF0aW9uX2lkIjo0NzAwfQ.XFVYDIkiavw_LJ4O7XnyDK-3DVQBv2wGc9FrfufPneU&url=http://links.ahca.org/u/click?_t%3D3abc5280edfa42b5905fbea7c0fff5c2%26_m%3D3689a0bc6d554bdda168a419a86d26b0%26_e%3DmUt_xpK9wtUmO4_kuvodbL959q9St3pTAyYEoj_E6ny9X9eRfVVTjLuz3cjvmMFltsv9NavCboI6IQVAQsJEduS8ziXkrSyeYbJQ2YSrMNmTgEdQ7PlfZVB1OB-HWzRrTtgpiz1meH_fNID3GvgkSOnIMPKSPUaxtylh4WTHtmWZK3GGWGmkUB9k0Ene3nO3NH9Q5j3g3ZkgoY3i3Yffm5M64BC8h6QXYdvT10GJGjihg9CTcuEfWkNl7b7BGUopsNGmh2HnNJloaWDOITuIenf_JhnU2NPpLekkfy7KFel_ipFelnaz9_s2JQ9bRE7auyxfppt9F3cZtAykunupu0teueHcF7tmcLusO__5ozM%253D">stressed </a>the impact declining occupancy has had
on finances. In a committee hearing before the Florida State Senate, Reed said,
“If we don’t start to see occupancy increase over the next six or seven months,
maybe even less, you’re going to start seeing nursing homes in a very dire
situation financially. It’s just, the margins are razor-thin.” <br>
<br>
With increased costs of care and a decline in residents, many facilities will
no longer be able to afford to run their facilities, leaving thousands of
elderly individuals displaced and forced to find new care.</p><p>Pandemic-related closures
continue to occur across the country. Long term care providers in <a href="https://app.bitdam.com/api/v1.0/links/rewrite_click/?rewrite_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZXdyaXRlX2lkIjoiNjAyNTRhODc0NTczYmIxMGQxYzQ4ODg1IiwidXJsIjoiIiwib3JnYW5pemF0aW9uX2lkIjo0NzAwfQ.rk3rPMjg68-Lfhsr3Zi2AKhrwThJNPAFDAPX9ZODeJ4&url=http://links.ahca.org/u/click?_t%3D3abc5280edfa42b5905fbea7c0fff5c2%26_m%3D3689a0bc6d554bdda168a419a86d26b0%26_e%3DmUt_xpK9wtUmO4_kuvodbCu4eIyCVmZoG24t9MvyvdhuTkZxoKeXMesNochszvX5uIknJ5nCY2-KI6pGrMt6ZBj2a1vhTHm-iETKR4lWj_jM2-fL5ttMQrjbpoTXcQ4VnE5Wc_gU0TzSlUewjHEGFNp5EnWGzoGoBzg-gQ5_6xtMHooGd2zyC-0SUCAPizZ1buDpnfzq0SIHerVmDDKXjKoiUsythKAbL6EQhIHqbHSoQreBzXAMscRWPqPNMYa9sr6BU4crhQqXYzt91mVybMDJkIESaTplCp643awMmeCYvf6wYcu96IzoMioMsoe7a1HCB6mBt4_UkuEWNyBUQSd5Yl_GIUO1eWjqxr8URoo9shbVaAa-_yGYhD8njUQN">California </a>, <a href="https://app.bitdam.com/api/v1.0/links/rewrite_click/?rewrite_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZXdyaXRlX2lkIjoiNjAyNTRhODdiMDU0NzhmMzFkY2Q2ZDcwIiwidXJsIjoiIiwib3JnYW5pemF0aW9uX2lkIjo0NzAwfQ.MK5HQRIFADmDkvjQDkkn4SVnKeninPgV-0DRGE8jSrs&url=http://links.ahca.org/u/click?_t%3D3abc5280edfa42b5905fbea7c0fff5c2%26_m%3D3689a0bc6d554bdda168a419a86d26b0%26_e%3DmUt_xpK9wtUmO4_kuvodbLRA0DrKE3q1hCG2MW0_wdOONBkaNPwjGi5kliwbnAb0EZavCXvNH1XXyGHqwiiUW0K6G-vIL1MTLVOxMe12diSXPdb5rCM2fP5dDUZb_E5fu9Ml2c2vadEutCZty-vszE-dXwkSGwx9rp3j4yxVf2oV4VEpA46yc0pnVQLkWauUUPTKG7gULdcS82YO3eijjLIBmyOPLOv4u3ih-8YHD6vyyKAOmn2vaXnJ5S20Q6GpG3YHCk8EVSDDVrjRkZ1Hx_aC0pUETmdreEaWrcEFCTjY7h4xsbX2paSiLxCNuHpSFIyUcp1UZvb1Abs1NHZSp6xjQ1zt2Iqef2vuSeMQJ6E%253D">Indiana </a>, <a href="https://app.bitdam.com/api/v1.0/links/rewrite_click/?rewrite_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZXdyaXRlX2lkIjoiNjAyNTRhODc0NTczYmIxMGQxYzQ4ODg0IiwidXJsIjoiIiwib3JnYW5pemF0aW9uX2lkIjo0NzAwfQ.4gNBhsrJPOiFRAHW5VcJJg1MkHr-aajmnjmJrBXjBNw&url=http://links.ahca.org/u/click?_t%3D3abc5280edfa42b5905fbea7c0fff5c2%26_m%3D3689a0bc6d554bdda168a419a86d26b0%26_e%3DmUt_xpK9wtUmO4_kuvodbDohNlT2KR207AO2jiDzoAxl_IvVkowecKKDDH2pOnSA6cy-wJhuN10ZEDyuGuD4oNt75UUHU3MGYSzRxR55iqEhnoMbZQDw8aJOiUCUI-gYcaXVwSm3jKTkXTAdPIO6Lb4Ml6OLnp3DRfbwbbVke-_MajQdN2MBQAVhYUc88SJES2XnFZeSSaVNLFWA_f1I7YnabwtPI3wCRp3J1c194YMXvc7_xl_18Jn0TI3ttPVwvvr21H9POo0JGOeNTJEpnl3_BujOVGnwLLl7Es3FVxMqdnBPqiQ_oDKuSn6FSj_ATiYFzJdWcJpFpgtDA27Oz1fnWCGgHD5pI3W6JwPKHBZ4e3RXBWwufd-yqEENFC1mDLr3CFpNqX_U-BV2TiuGlbtGbaHR2Eu3Y4kCo0iGdiA%253D" target="_blank">Connecticut </a>, <a href="https://app.bitdam.com/api/v1.0/links/rewrite_click/?rewrite_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZXdyaXRlX2lkIjoiNjAyNTRhODdmOGZmMjk4OTM2NmY0OWY2IiwidXJsIjoiIiwib3JnYW5pemF0aW9uX2lkIjo0NzAwfQ.N5bc__9vGJrjomTz47gigm7yJit4I5btloSUYkyXPv0&url=http://links.ahca.org/u/click?_t%3D3abc5280edfa42b5905fbea7c0fff5c2%26_m%3D3689a0bc6d554bdda168a419a86d26b0%26_e%3DmUt_xpK9wtUmO4_kuvodbM1CqnWiGziqWyaqcJ6vtp4snodmm4kjfKVAwvfmmvN-0bpKc8ricENXup8pAzpHsZ_TB_8xZsCiI5sIZVabUQQJi_ixRXfMrxybyQ8R5TZr758aG229X-wnpZJtNtIF7rQ8NfBOVoLIPHAdbBSg1yEN7zthnu_J1oOI9O8EsHIhPTSAs63s3Bc5U3yIsdLw-gwRVfyGn6nIcct6W7Lo7dvIDQcR-tmmLZd0FMfi3Ii9lg0d3LQQ0ux-mfzaHf6l0OPUObwwiI49gOw0LLLMcGHjm_rOVwA-91cMorXH6udHAihS61OokgrIresQPFUCYOHvEsVQKnqpU4-kj5zTBu7y7hDS1fWoF1kl0w25OfRB1cpy1fKegXxKEdeKKQs5JlBGl3DysXHSnpcoRjC1C1k%253D">Massachusetts </a>, <a href="https://app.bitdam.com/api/v1.0/links/rewrite_click/?rewrite_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZXdyaXRlX2lkIjoiNjAyNTRhODdmOGZmMjk4OTM2NmY0OWY3IiwidXJsIjoiIiwib3JnYW5pemF0aW9uX2lkIjo0NzAwfQ.TBuxC7ifCis6MwR7-NldkPjTxa--lkeVk_IW2Cczsy0&url=http://links.ahca.org/u/click?_t%3D3abc5280edfa42b5905fbea7c0fff5c2%26_m%3D3689a0bc6d554bdda168a419a86d26b0%26_e%3DmUt_xpK9wtUmO4_kuvodbEpvOc5lXtXA0NA9tlahKb9r_bkhwrxrkPVL55oKbIi0Ndw1l15abcTr-rZkGUOWSgwpoIqj_QsodUFRJcgyvz5hhNn8FUdQCXLCxujWbu2tlBrv-NnA8jqlrxgL65QAYDBlEhrd0Y3Pi1-a8XLf37B0CBY3Ur4raVKTVpgmJDK_LSAhajyHhLfWZOHs-RjqLE7Hb4k9Pag8gZ-ADtFdy-8FvFlq-a_ATrxp3BPIiAZ3j61Xna2ZXVhjbR5GQzXX8axcsUilgrFP095GtHVUI9TAVU_xVlv2lsyAUpKJnovdP_ES0dgn1YPaZwmtUh9a8w%253D%253D">Colorado </a>, <a href="https://app.bitdam.com/api/v1.0/links/rewrite_click/?rewrite_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZXdyaXRlX2lkIjoiNjAyNTRhODdkNjI1NTU4Zjc2MWQ4ODllIiwidXJsIjoiIiwib3JnYW5pemF0aW9uX2lkIjo0NzAwfQ.2hIR998xQyGIxLja7SwpQd6VqskkJHgD33LdKPMhnOo&url=http://links.ahca.org/u/click?_t%3D3abc5280edfa42b5905fbea7c0fff5c2%26_m%3D3689a0bc6d554bdda168a419a86d26b0%26_e%3DmUt_xpK9wtUmO4_kuvodbCGXM9yR_zR_8fsRvsuYrqheqEvTPOtjBQhiWlxYerRJKM5CeVeqXJetyBkX4ezaFYL1lxpo44pvyQYt-GdcaiS4VbJdYo7SDTKZ1E0VFEgZl-H5OVGsN_D9nUNrJSH7b-bQagWIIm2W10Ci1k-CwGsDsIt6Y-NdQGKulTnZOEc5Dd2zdf1MLWLI--lsnF-rW-5U-yLWqAADqKFkKY7-53ORQBAwOFMwfp_R1ukWmG8ofn3K5GaVNCvHKk71dYMUYboLQtI1p8nBaAF3ofFNpZgAMHG_01qywAD-3LDwCt-YT5mKYxFUwsvW-X7w99P2Y5_XNn48_5-wUS9qqjPwT_BVlg7N-sJIQjKrEFcFqbE79URDyBgZCmG7rHqsK7NyyCqzW5AW_LJLOCLZd0T7e7s%253D">Kansas </a>, <a href="https://app.bitdam.com/api/v1.0/links/rewrite_click/?rewrite_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZXdyaXRlX2lkIjoiNjAyNTRhODdmOGZmMjk4OTM2NmY0OWY1IiwidXJsIjoiIiwib3JnYW5pemF0aW9uX2lkIjo0NzAwfQ.5qZsqBehtUJ2NVbUtJ-RxXrfnWXHdWq1gYX13kKdNDQ&url=http://links.ahca.org/u/click?_t%3D3abc5280edfa42b5905fbea7c0fff5c2%26_m%3D3689a0bc6d554bdda168a419a86d26b0%26_e%3DmUt_xpK9wtUmO4_kuvodbDZL7ldp2V-LzCk6FrfiL05a2mm68QdJMdMYJ3Qx4UL_kLgJrkF7kqVccfB-DMi_X09dlum8KmwNLY7qQ2EVWk3Get9ahH5qJzTDNBCU6Rycnrxqn0RB8D17UBv1iCOpVCVroc5nTruqn5q-dVnJp049pqaqmvvnDnKLmsiTIjQfWHuJCov7fDzAtcUYlJgzlIXCFcSNpJcDK3E9ZfQ-4y9f8fQ1ig-_JydN3sYQtjD4K0kNcMBhgRIA40YXLDRKI0hnQykiklqGqt9Qi_QerNuVLV9zizAGIYBb_GYRRe09oWQXLthCNo15WgMeXyls1yR-p--jSfm7aluskyO_S0dUURyD6OhuxlQVpxPCF5o_PN1By1xKU71KVCXO7ip_d4oDfpPRkbul1HCZoFycn80%253D">Michigan </a>, <a href="https://app.bitdam.com/api/v1.0/links/rewrite_click/?rewrite_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZXdyaXRlX2lkIjoiNjAyNTRhODczNzlmYzA3NTYyMjEzNWFjIiwidXJsIjoiIiwib3JnYW5pemF0aW9uX2lkIjo0NzAwfQ.TPMzWoYjzl0wDz8G9j1j9SEl5ga52Rh31ONbG5tpSAI&url=http://links.ahca.org/u/click?_t%3D3abc5280edfa42b5905fbea7c0fff5c2%26_m%3D3689a0bc6d554bdda168a419a86d26b0%26_e%3DmUt_xpK9wtUmO4_kuvodbOuhACDz2JxFdrwnzYq0xQ9YqFOlWHpwT-20wF8bOo00fwrY9uGcJiA5xuEl9kqIqcS5f-u_DSRvmmJxiEl-_EB42HNCtgKVTjrDib2H08kU2oV0NdDvyPTo8MyoXPAq0-6F2U5W7tDIi_MvwVDzeg_I9aP_cyuR3tXMu5Dce9bvCBxJGyqlDlhnTfJlal6LTWu44AXJCBscvxGWfI1oMbdDA7DfI51GTeH0RxBINPhwqKe50dtHIU5ZOSmR2YuiRc3l1511cKx9Yif0Vlxa5y5eI-xGAB5SoIT38z-Z_PINJZgHRISgDnCDEA7zwUbfWUZhKjk8QGkRwoahlrnJt7xnLBC8T5tFUpK6hzNQCxW_ur-mZaKn6vG0kXE_hiOiro4_VXQq3svpe80aRbyTLDollj1LQ6hbTIKYAixBLsk0iEY6OM99manFrvvFRcgXtg%253D%253D">Nebraska </a>, <a href="https://app.bitdam.com/api/v1.0/links/rewrite_click/?rewrite_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZXdyaXRlX2lkIjoiNjAyNTRhODdkNjI1NTU4Zjc2MWQ4ODlmIiwidXJsIjoiIiwib3JnYW5pemF0aW9uX2lkIjo0NzAwfQ.5Mtn17DMxLEheFeC7WyyFTdrHs94NX20DKFvA08shn4&url=http://links.ahca.org/u/click?_t%3D3abc5280edfa42b5905fbea7c0fff5c2%26_m%3D3689a0bc6d554bdda168a419a86d26b0%26_e%3DmUt_xpK9wtUmO4_kuvodbJtQC_t8mAQWdEGjkaJ_88usqTchPBFatF1nuarpnzfdDxxJ0mX0Wq4OJE7zwgZGq_yvLn7yg4wtDR1zWzfxE9Gx-ATBsUfJlejw-5J5vJ3BsDOGxs8qJ_i07wfkNY5qleD0NU98l2QlItYGcZvrk_HVC5asnA51SKFVBzd75c7cVK4TU5Uw7HTcIVUCNC3jZPxD0Yi12d6F90t9Pr94BXCwHXUMyjtjUfDewICtzIf6cvi2Ab8w4MGFRKixeJ9QNHdZut0TXxAJ09CIRElY_65NFfXE44mabJIFnFSvl3qGCPgXh6nSqfwq7U6CWOWeItT5Xq1as7BCCQPmO1AXcx9ZPoLSubuoD9BZa_xJz2zSVcWWNHEH-xTKEzpqoyCpnENV2oWtjbCsJAVNY5l7EjPvfP0ZlZEcW2-lRFWgm-hZ">New Hampshire </a>, <a href="https://app.bitdam.com/api/v1.0/links/rewrite_click/?rewrite_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZXdyaXRlX2lkIjoiNjAyNTRhODdiMDU0NzhmMzFkY2Q2ZDcxIiwidXJsIjoiIiwib3JnYW5pemF0aW9uX2lkIjo0NzAwfQ.IpcwSp1b7kBWR_zFQSN0va0ciTiERRLUTnYI9D2w6_w&url=http://links.ahca.org/u/click?_t%3D3abc5280edfa42b5905fbea7c0fff5c2%26_m%3D3689a0bc6d554bdda168a419a86d26b0%26_e%3DmUt_xpK9wtUmO4_kuvodbPIbXys9YcPfwaasQCM_6gFh50jryoE3ES0y3OQ8cb55012R4-Q2czd0oXnKK6zakj3d3XKgmreuAdSyuf2onr2czx7r1vpSU3-NWKU3h-JMtCItG6xsv5JZLexTTHGfCHtEPO5M-9ZKXnBLAy5hTSximeAQyoppaZwZT5tDhiFYbl_J9V0rMKYMe8Qm7M5eXwUtvxsKCZP0RpxBM1CYWQM7PBml3fDT3yrtObEwIsn6N7HBimwFqQSQ8ubCCjx09TeJlv_Fwj5GWfA9712WcradXCoYygO-66EeKvONEfxmH_jcFe9Y3IwzB6WhxDzvrcUKJWwbVk96AD7hbuAw6JSGXAliEp8yv7hTm7tfmeAvA0er9Zt4D0l1Y9cy2Qx6uTJQYneB95KKoFO-hDDnU7E%253D">New York, </a>and <a href="https://app.bitdam.com/api/v1.0/links/rewrite_click/?rewrite_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZXdyaXRlX2lkIjoiNjAyNTRhODczNzlmYzA3NTYyMjEzNWFhIiwidXJsIjoiIiwib3JnYW5pemF0aW9uX2lkIjo0NzAwfQ.UPEhHi7u9la9VLLtRMqP8IecRkGC0ViB0H6DqUB8fH0&url=http://links.ahca.org/u/click?_t%3D3abc5280edfa42b5905fbea7c0fff5c2%26_m%3D3689a0bc6d554bdda168a419a86d26b0%26_e%3DmUt_xpK9wtUmO4_kuvodbCUcBOk2jUomgnDHY8Guoz7IfBed9LpvtWAiDPPLf6F9ghR7c1_pWihKFR1lZ1GBMbNKaYW4OXyXkxOdVOvNfcj-zznQCNbn_bRc-Iu7cGUIxv7qHGD_3pDTFxX9bt8ajtSQ_R7xVsO5T9GjuhZenoPP8mBcibbVOdmVzyP9FUQ86nntXNtqDRA0yXVTGNtFKK4jT-0HawgPR94_bx_zrBYjAWFZz811zT4wUzvzGlNWrLBQyfEjS87E88wgJQen9dyKB6yxLzn04ozHwpOp2YgM7TlVDzWtMHb1yEEXzg_baeKSsZ8DFb9bE0NzFjHzSsVKmGvPQtSHqMfKarI8q82mA7XrgMmTz9d2FqzR8hxe">Rhode Island </a>have made the difficult decision to
permanently close their doors, the report said. <br>
<br>
To address the urgent financial straits providers are in, AHCA/NCAL is urging
Congress to prioritize long term care residents and staff by allocating $20
billion in funding, either through an enhanced Federal Medicaid Assistance
Percentage for long-term services and support, or through a dedicated portion
to the Provider Relief Fund.</p><p>“This financial support will
bring much-needed relief and enable providers to continue to protect residents
and staff. America’s most vulnerable population and their dedicated caregivers
cannot fight this fight alone,” the association said. </p>
| 2021-02-11T05:00:00Z | <img alt="" src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/healthcare_finance.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | Finance;Caregiving | AHCA/NCAL is calling for $20 billion in much-needed relief for financially stressed long term care providers. |
| COVID-19 Cases Decline in Nursing Homes After Vaccine Rollout | <p>Vaccinations of long term care residents in U.S. nursing homes appears to be putting a sizable dent in the number of new COVID-19 infections among this most vulnerable population, according to a new blog post by Omar Zahraoui, a data analyst at the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC).</p><p>While nursing homes have disproportionately suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic, over the past year the rate of new COVID-19 cases among residents moved nearly in tandem with the rate of new cases within the nation as a whole, he said. However, with the distribution and administration of vaccines aimed at these residents taking hold, the infection rates have declined sharply in nursing centers, much more than the general population.</p><p>“Within a few weeks of the launch of the Long Term Care (LTC) vaccination program administered through the Pharmacy Partnership Program, with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on Dec. 21, 2020, and the Moderna vaccine on Dec. 28, new COVID-19 cases within skilled nursing properties have been sharply lower than the U.S. overall new cases at any previous point,” Zahraoui said.<br> <br>Various reports show that residents overwhelming opt in to receiving vaccinations, whereas during a similar time less than 10 percent of the U.S. population had received at least one vaccine shot. These initial results are promising and provide another potential data point on the effectiveness of vaccinations in preventing new COVID-19 cases, he said.</p><p>At the beginning of February, more than 30 million people had been inoculated in the United States, and the vaccines appear to be safe and effective. “According to the latest <a href="https://blog.nic.org/executive-survey-insights-wave-20">NIC Executive Survey Insights (Wave 20), </a>which collected survey results from Jan. 11 to 24, “two-thirds of residents (66 percent) and nearly one-half of staff (47 percent) have had their first dose,” Zahraoui said.</p><p>“Increasingly, there is support for the idea that as the number of people who are vaccinated increases, the number of hospitalizations should potentially decrease, as was indicated in a study of trends in Israel and its high vaccination rates,” he said.</p><p>Note, the vaccination rates reported by the federal government in its Jan. 17 <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7005e2.htm?s_cid=mm7005e2_w">Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report </a>show a median of 77.8 percent of residents receiving the vaccination and 37.5 percent of staff members.</p><p>Zahraoui said that since the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) began reporting data in late May, newly confirmed cases within skilled nursing properties have followed the same pattern as the U.S. overall new cases, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).</p><p>For the week ending Dec. 20, both overall new cases in the United States and within skilled nursing properties reached new peaks before slipping back in late December. “In fact, U.S. new virus cases reached a seven-day moving average of about 220,000 on Dec. 20, while the per-resident rate of new COVID-19 infections set a record at 3.03 percent at the same time, according to data compiled by NIC,” Zahraoui said.</p><p>However, in recent weeks there has been a noticeable divergence in these trends as the vaccines are distributed in nursing homes. NIC’s <a href="https://www.nic.org/snf-covid-tracker">Skilled Nursing COVID Tracker </a>featuring the latest CMS data update as of Jan. 24 shows that case counts of COVID-19 and fatalities at skilled nursing properties have started to decline.</p><p>He said although new cases in the United States (seven-day moving average) reached levels higher than the prior December peaks by Jan. 10 (244,702), newly confirmed cases within skilled nursing properties continued falling steadily and remained far below the previous peak seen on Dec. 20, with a 1 percentage point decline recorded over four weeks, from 3.03 percent on Dec. 20 to 1.96 percent on Jan. 17.</p><p>Similarly, new coronavirus fatalities among skilled nursing residents have flattened and slightly decreased from Dec. 20 levels, while U.S new fatalities (seven-day moving average) continued to climb at a faster pace. For the week ending Dec. 20, fatalities in nursing homes accounted for approximately 31 percent of overall new fatalities in the United States. By Jan. 17, the skilled nursing new fatalities as a share of total fatalities in the United States dropped to 21 percent.</p><p>“The decrease in new cases and fatalities in skilled nursing properties relative to trends in the total United States is encouraging, particularly given the timing relative to widespread distribution of the vaccine to long term care properties,” said NIC President and Chief Executive Officer Brian Jurutka.</p><p>NIC has been publishing a regularly updated <a href="https://www.nic.org/snf-covid-tracker">weekly surveillance report </a>since June 2020 on the incidence of COVID-19 cases and fatalities among residents in the nation’s nursing care properties.</p><p>For more reading on the effects of COVID-19 in skilled nursing properties, see the following report:<br><a href="http://www.nic.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/SNCT-Insights-Report-Special-Issue.pdf">www.nic.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/SNCT-Insights-Report-Special-Issue.pdf</a>.<br></p> | 2021-02-11T05:00:00Z | <img alt="" src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/1220_news1.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | COVID-19;Management | Nursing center infection rates dropping much more quickly than those in the general population. |
| AHCA, NCAL Offer Assistance on How to Manage Third COVID-19 Clinic | <p>In a new update on COVID-19 developments affecting the long term care profession, the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) has addressed provider concerns about how to manage the so-called third clinics permissible under the government’s vaccine program.</p><p>According to the association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Long-Term Care (LTC) Pharmacy Partnership Program provides three COVID-19 vaccination clinics for LTC facilities enrolled in the program. </p><p>“As many LTC facilities are closing in on their third clinic, questions have arisen whether residents and staff will be able to receive a first dose of the vaccine at the third and final clinic,” the association said. “AHCA/NCAL has been actively working with CDC, CVS, and Walgreens on this issue.” </p><p>CDC policy is to optimize vaccine access for residents and staff, which means delivering the first dose of either vaccine at the third clinic. However, the pharmacies will defer to state/jurisdictional guidance, AHCA/NCAL said.</p><p>“So, if your state health department decides not to allow first doses at the third clinic in all cases, for example, the pharmacy will follow that guidance,” they added.   </p><p>If residents and staff receive the first dose of the vaccine at the third clinic, it is important that providers determine how these individuals will access the second dose. For assistance in securing the second dose on behalf of staff or residents, providers should: </p><p>• Contact their state public health department for more information on vaccine availability. </p><p>• Call on of the retail pharmacies involved in CDC’s <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/retail-pharmacy-program/participating-pharmacies.html?cm_ven=ExactTarget&cm_cat=COVID-19+Update+%23158&cm_pla=All+Subscribers&cm_ite=Federal+Retail+Pharmacy+Program&cm_lm=pconnole%40ahca.org&cm_ainfo=&&&&&">Federal Retail Pharmacy Program.</a> Retail pharmacies participating in the program vary by state and territory; visit the CDC website to find out which pharmacies are participating in which state.  </p><p>If a provider is in a state that is delivering the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine through the Pharmacy Partnership, it will be more challenging to access a second dose due to the unique cold chain storage requirements, AHCA/NCAL said. If all potential options for administering the second dose have been exhausted, clinical leadership may consider the following:</p><p>• Counseling residents to finish the vaccine series using the Moderna vaccine. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/info-by-product/clinical-considerations.html?cm_ven=ExactTarget&cm_cat=COVID-19+Update+%23158&cm_pla=All+Subscribers&cm_ite=recommends&cm_lm=pconnole%40ahca.org&cm_ainfo=&&&&&">recommends:</a> “In exceptional situations in which the first-dose vaccine product cannot be determined or is no longer available, any available mRNA COVID-19 vaccine may be administered at a minimum interval of 28 days between doses to complete the mRNA COVID-19 vaccination series.”</p><p>• Delay of the second dose administration up to six weeks (42 days). CDC guidance dictates that in situations where it is not feasible to adhere to the recommended interval (21 days for Pfizer and 28 days for Moderna, the second dose can be administered up to six weeks 42 days) after the first.</p> | 2021-02-09T05:00:00Z | <img alt="" src="/Breaking-News/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/0920_News2.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | COVID-19;Management | Questions have arisen over whether residents or staff may receive first doses in third and final clinic. |