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President Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden hold widely divergent views on health issues, with the president’s record and response to the coronavirus pandemic likely to play a central role in November’s elections.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to renewed interest among policymakers, the media, residents, and their families in nursing home regulation and oversight, as residents and staff are at increased risk of infection due to the highly transmissible nature of the coronavirus, the congregate nature of facility settings, and the close contact that many workers have with patients. This issue brief answers key questions about nursing home oversight under Medicare and Medicaid and explains how federal policy has changed in light of COVID-19.
In his Axios column, Drew Altman discusses new data on the surge of new infections in long-term care facilities in COVID-19 hotspots. The dominant narrative about the Sunbelt surge in new cases is that the infected population is younger, but he says that’s not the whole story.
In his Axios column, Drew Altman discusses new data on the surge of new infections in long-term care facilities in COVID-19 hotspots. The dominant narrative about the Sunbelt surge in new cases is that the infected population is younger, but he says that’s not the whole story. There is also a spike in cases in long-term care facilities, especially in Florida and Texas.
LTC cases in hotspot states are increasing at 4x the rate as LTC cases in non-hotspot states. Media has largely focused on the share of cases attributed to a younger population. However, increased cases in long-term care facilities are cause for concern, given that nearly half of all COVID-19 deaths have been in long-term care facilities. This piece provides state-level data, including data that shows that long-term care cases in Texas and Florida have increased by over 50% in 2 weeks.
In response to the widespread concerns about the high numbers of coronavirus cases and deaths in long-term care (LTC) facilities, CMS recently implemented new COVID-19 data reporting requirements for all federally certified nursing facilities.
This issue brief identifies key themes in policy changes states are making under Appendix K authority to adapt Medicaid HCBS programs in light of the COVID-19 emergency.
More than 10,000 residents and staff in long-term care facilities across the U.S. have died from COVID-19 infections, according to a KFF analysis of state data. That number is an undercount since not all states are currently reporting such data.
This data note provides detailed state-level data on numbers and shares of cases and deaths due to COVID-19 in long-term care facilities. This data note also provides information on state variation in LTC facility cases/deaths reporting patterns.
This issue brief provides state-level data on long-term services and supports (LTSS) users by setting, discusses the unique challenges that LTSS users will face in light of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. It presents federal and state policy options, and explores Medicaid’s role as the primary LTSS payer in the U.S..
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