The recent freeze on federal health communications, initially intended to last until February 1st, continues to disrupt operations for nursing homes across the country. This unexpected extension leaves providers uncertain about access to crucial information, raising concerns about resident safety and business stability.
“A lasting ban on health-related federal communications would adversely impact our entire industry,” Karie Kesterson-Gibson, director of clinical excellence at WesleyLife, Iowa’s largest nonprofit provider of health and well-being services for seniors, told McKnight’s. This quote highlights the industry’s reliance on federal agencies like the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for vital updates.
The communication freeze, initiated by the Department of Health and Human Services during the presidential transition, has halted websites, external communications, data feeds, and public health meetings. While emergency-related information is still being disseminated, the broader freeze creates a significant information gap.
This gap impacts various aspects of nursing home operations. Moti Gamburd, CEO of Raya’s Paradise, a California-based skilled nursing facility, emphasized the financial implications to McKnight’s, stating, “If there is no communication, it keeps operators in the dark regarding what resources may be available down the road.” This lack of clarity makes it difficult for facilities to plan for hiring, training, and facility upgrades, potentially affecting resident care.
Furthermore, the communication freeze raises concerns about infectious disease control. With recent outbreaks like the tuberculosis outbreak in Kansas and the first confirmed US avian flu-related death in Louisiana, real-time monitoring and transparency are crucial. The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) stressed the urgency of restoring access to critical data, including the CMS’s Care Compare website, which provides valuable information on nursing home performance and quality metrics.
The absence of real-time surveillance data hinders clinicians’ ability to respond effectively to emerging threats. As infection preventionists and long-term care consultant Buffy Lloyd-Krejci explained in a McKnight’s interview, “My teams use the CDC’s alert network daily to identify emerging threats, and then we are able to provide this information to the nursing homes. If this goes blind, then we have no idea what may be posing health risks.”
Despite the challenges, nursing homes are working diligently to maintain high-quality care. Rachel Reeves, a spokesperson for the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living, acknowledged this while also emphasizing the industry’s desire for a return to normal information flow: “We look forward to federal agencies resuming traditional external communications and perhaps more importantly, working with stakeholders to advance solutions for patients and providers.” The industry awaits the reinstatement of regular communication channels and looks forward to collaborating with federal agencies to address the ongoing needs of residents and providers.