Each week we will highlight three trending news articles shared from the long-term care industry. From nursing homes to skilled nursing facilities, this weekly post will catch you up to speed on what's new.

CMS will work with states, providers to help them comply with vaccine rule: report

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has assured providers who are struggling to comply with the vaccine mandate, that they will work closely with facilities to comply.

This reassurance comes after requests for mandate waivers came from West Virginia and Virginia.

Currently, 88% of healthcare workers in West Virginia are vaccinated, and 92% in Virginia.

According to CMS, “We have seen that healthcare systems that implement vaccine requirements are not experiencing dramatic staff losses. Vaccinated staff are instead more available to work since they are less likely to get sick. Increasing the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, including the booster shot, is the most important tool against staffing shortages.”

Reference article >

Five States Now Require COVID-19 Boosters For Nursing Home Staff

Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, California, and New Mexico are now requiring health care workers to get COVID booster shots. This is part of the health care industry’s efforts to reduce outbreaks and hospital bottlenecks.

According to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, staff will be given two weeks to get the booster once eligible. While there is space for medical exemption, this mandate will not include a test-out option.

Connecticut’s Governor Ned Lamont says, “We know for a fact that the initial vaccinations significantly and immediately reduced the rate of hospitalizations and deaths that were occurring in these facilities. Now, we need to fight against the impacts of waning immunity, and that is why everyone who is able should get a booster shot.”

Reference article >

FDA authorizes monoclonal antibody that tackles omicron

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized a monoclonal antibody treatment that is effective against the omicron variant.

It has been authorized for treatment of COVID-19 in patients aged 12 years and older who don’t have access to other authorized treatments.

This treatment comes amid a federal push to increase the supply and accessibility of omicron-targeting treatments.

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Thank you for reading this week's edition of Weekly Long-Term Care News and Updates, from BASE10. We hope you enjoyed learning about the industry's latest news and findings. To be notified for next week's post, please subscribe to our email newsletter down below.

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About BASE10 Genetics, Inc.
Located in Chicago, BASE10 is a healthcare software technology company whose platform creates turnkey disease management programs that can be deployed at scale for nursing home operators, pharmacies, payors, and self-funded employers.