Author: Kathleen Steele Gaivin

A recent listeria outbreak linked to frozen supplemental shakes has resulted in a nationwide recall and tragically, multiple deaths and hospitalizations, primarily affecting residents of long-term care facilities. The FDA announced the recall of all Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial Frozen Supplemental shakes after discovering the contamination. “This outbreak underscores the critical importance of food safety protocols in healthcare settings, especially within nursing homes where residents are often more vulnerable to foodborne illnesses,” stated an FDA spokesperson. The outbreak, which the CDC reports dates back to 2018, has resulted in 38 reported illnesses, 37 hospitalizations, and 11 deaths. A significant…

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is tightening its grip on nursing homes’ use of third-party financial guarantees, aiming to curb practices that shift the financial burden of resident care onto others. According to updated guidance set to take effect in March, any language in admission agreements that seeks to hold someone other than the resident personally responsible for payment could be deemed non-compliant, even if the word “guarantee” isn’t explicitly used. This move has sparked concerns that nursing homes may resort to more aggressive tactics, such as lawsuits, to recover unpaid resident debt. “It is becoming harder…