I. FOLLOWING THE NARRATIVE: A quick summary of national media trends last week.
(* indicates that LeadingAge is featured in the story.)
Media interest in aging services continues to focus on COVID cases among staff and residents in long term care and the impact of vaccine mandates and pandemic-related pressures on workforce in nursing homes and other care settings and communities. Other issues making news last week included the release from CMS of staffing data as well as LeadingAge’s letters to President Biden, the Administration, and the COVID task force advocating for support – including immediate action on workforce measures – as Build Back Better’s limbo remains unchanged
Coronavirus, Vaccination/Boosters, Tests, Visitation, Workforce and Legal Challenges
- *Skilled Nursing News: HHS Shells Out an Additional $2B in Provider Relief Funds
- *Washington Post, The Daily 202: There aren’t enough coronavirus medications to go around
- *Bloomberg Law: Biden, Congress Pressed for $2,000 for Each Nursing Home Staffer
- *McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Feds must deliver immediate $5 wage increase, relief payments for LTC workers, top provider group warns
- *Skilled Nursing News: LeadingAge to Biden: Aging Services Providers Need PRF Reload, Emergency Staff Wage Program
- *Home Health Care News: LeadingAge Details COVID-19 Relief Requests in Letter to Congress, Biden
- *Home Care Magazine: LeadingAge Unveils Relief Package for Those Who Serve Older Americans
- *Skilled Nursing News: Members of Congress Urge White House to Investigate Price Gouging From Staffing Agencies
- USA Today: Tired, burned out, frustrated’: Omicron surge hits nursing homes as vaccine mandate looms
- *McKnight’s Long Term Care News: First vaccine deadline arrives for healthcare workers in half the nation
- Associated Press: EXPLAINER: Who must follow Biden’s vaccine mandates?
- *McKnight’s Senior Living: Senior living celebrates OSHA vaccine mandate withdrawal, touts COVID-19 vaccination success
- NPR: Seniors are at high risk of COVID, but Medicare doesn’t pay for rapid tests
- The Hill: Biden pressured to cover COVID-19 tests through Medicare
- Associated Press: Medicare posts key nursing home staffing info for consumers
- Bloomberg Law: Besieged Nursing Homes Call Staffing Report Mandate ‘Tone Deaf’
- *McKnight’s Senior Living: Effects of Supreme Court ruling on OSHA mandate linger
Biden Administration and Congress
- The Hill: Progressives apply pressure on Biden, Senate to pass Build Back Better
- Bloomberg Government: HEALTH CARE BRIEFING: Democrats Target Drug Prices for BBB Unity
- Public News Service: Biden Administration Aims to Expand Home-Based Care for Medicaid Recipients
II. Other Clips that Influenced the Week: LeadingAge is a sought-out, reliable source for multiple trade and national media outlets (see that coverage posted in our LeadingAge Press Room). Other key clips that shaped the narrative last week:
- *(Letters to the Editor) Kaiser Health News:Nursing Homes’ Balancing Act
- Forbes: Covid Isolation And Aging Parents’ Mental Health: What Can Families Do?
- *Home Health Care News: CCRC-Without-Walls Pioneer Kendal at Home Breaks Down Its Growth Trajectory
- Senior Housing News: 2022 Senior Housing Outlook: Pre-Covid Occupancy and Margins Likely Out of Reach, Investors Still Bullish
- Affordable Housing Finance: Capital Markets Outlook Remains Stable for 2022
- McKnight’s Senior Living: SENIOR Act proposes $10B sustainability fund, workforce development programs for assisted living
- ABC News: Promising COVID-19 antiviral pill, Paxlovid, in scarce supply, as doctors, patients compete for access
III. What’s On Our Radar — this week’s likely priorities:
- Development of messaging for workforce specific media engagement
- Monitoring possible federal relief
IV. National Statements & Products (all posted on the Press Room page):
