Author: Charles Adams

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s surprise bid for New York City mayor has reignited scrutiny over his administration’s handling of nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Current NYC Mayor Eric Adams, addressing reporters on Monday, stated that Cuomo must “answer” for his decisions regarding nursing home deaths, but stopped short of saying it should disqualify him from the race. “I’ve met with some of the nursing home family members and advocates. There’s some things that we want to do with them. But he has to answer that question on the trail,” Adams said when asked about the undercounting of…

A significant reduction in the federal workforce, impacting numerous agencies including the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is raising concerns within the nursing home industry. The layoffs, initiated by the Elon Musk-backed Department of Government Efficiency, are part of the Trump administration’s effort to downsize the government. While the exact number of HHS employees affected remains unclear, reports indicate thousands of layoffs, including 1,300 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), according to Stat. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), a key research institution focusing on diseases prevalent in long-term care settings like Alzheimer’s and cancer,…

A new study reveals a concerning rise in dementia-related stigmatization on Twitter, particularly in North America, coinciding with and following the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers analyzing over 44,000 tweets found a significant increase in posts expressing stigmatizing views about individuals with dementia, even among caregivers themselves. “The findings uncover a worrying trend of growing dementia-related stigmatization among the caregivers, manifested by caregivers internalizing publicly-held stigma and projecting negative stereotypes externally as a means to devalue others,” states the study, published in Nature. The research, which examined tweets from 2013 to 2022, categorized posts into three themes: caregiving challenges, caregiver inspiration strategies,…

Flu activity in the United States remains elevated, with older adults experiencing the highest hospitalization rates, according to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This trend underscores the vulnerability of this population to influenza and the importance of preventative measures within nursing home settings. The CDC’s weekly update, released on February 7th, reveals that flu-related hospitalization rates are on the rise across all age groups. The current rate, tied with the 2017-2018 season, represents the highest weekly peak since the 2010-2011 season. However, the most concerning statistic is the disproportionate impact on older adults,…

Skilled Care Journal – The FDA’s recent approval of Ozempic for adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD) marks a significant development with potential implications for the nursing home industry. This decision makes Ozempic the first GLP-1 treatment option for this patient population, addressing a critical need given the high prevalence of CKD among diabetic nursing home residents. Ozempic, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, has demonstrated promising results in clinical trials. Novo Nordisk, the drug’s maker, reports that Ozempic reduced the risk of death from CKD and major cardiac events by 24% in people with diabetes.…

Colonial Heights, VA – The ongoing investigation into alleged elder abuse and neglect at Colonial Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing Center has resulted in a 19th staff member facing criminal charges. Michelle Beddoe, a nurse manager at the facility, was arrested this week and charged with abuse of a vulnerable adult resulting in death. This development comes just over a month after a large-scale raid by law enforcement on the nursing home in December. The charges against Beddoe stem from the death of a 74-year-old resident with cerebral palsy and diabetes. Investigators allege that the resident’s death was caused by sepsis…

Medicare Advantage (MA) plans are increasingly relying on prior authorizations, creating significant hurdles for nursing homes and their patients, according to a recent analysis by KFF. This trend continues despite growing scrutiny from federal agencies and lawmakers. The KFF analysis revealed a stark disparity in prior authorization requirements between MA plans and traditional Medicare. In 2023, MA plans required prior authorizations approximately 125 times more often than traditional Medicare. Specifically, MA plans averaged nearly two prior authorization determinations per enrollee, while traditional Medicare averaged only about 0.01 per enrollee. This translates to nearly 50 million prior authorization requests for MA…

The Department of Justice (DOJ) recently announced the sentencing of Lourdes Navarro, a laboratory owner, to nine years in prison for her involvement in a massive COVID-19 testing fraud scheme. Navarro and her partner, Imran Shams, exploited the pandemic to submit fraudulent claims for unnecessary tests, primarily targeting vulnerable nursing home residents. The scheme involved billing Medicare for costly respiratory pathogen panel (RPP) tests instead of the screening tests that were actually needed. This resulted in a staggering $369 million in false claims, with Medicare wrongly reimbursing over $46 million. This case highlights the vulnerability of nursing homes to healthcare…

In his first grilling before the Senate Finance Committee, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), found himself on the defensive, particularly on his stance on Medicaid, Medicare, and nursing home staffing regulations. Kennedy’s responses and views revealed gaps in his understanding of key healthcare programs, which could have significant implications for nursing homes and seniors across the nation. Nursing Home Staffing Mandate: A “Disaster” for Rural America One of the most contentious topics during the hearing was the Biden administration’s new nursing home staffing mandate, which is…

A shocking case of medication tampering and theft has rocked a Pella, Iowa nursing home, raising serious concerns about patient safety and the integrity of care. Jessica Lynn Emerson, 36, of Albia, is facing multiple felony charges for allegedly swapping residents’ Zofran, an anti-nausea medication, with Oxycodone, a powerful opioid painkiller. Emerson, a nurse at Hearthstone nursing facility, is also accused of intercepting Oxycodone deliveries intended for residents. “This is a deeply disturbing case that highlights the potential for drug diversion within healthcare facilities,” says Professor Sarah Johnson, a geriatric care specialist at the University of Iowa. “The alleged actions…