BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (March 2, 2020) -- An outbreak of coronavirus disease in a nursing home near Seattle is prompting urgent calls for precautionary tactics at America’s elder care facilities, where residents are at heightened risk of serious complications from the illness because of the dual threat of age and close living conditions, Kaiser Health News reports.
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and Homecare
HomeCare magazine knows that the coronavirus outbreak will impact almost every aspect of how homecare businesses operate. This page is a way to stay abreast of the latest developments surrounding the virus as it affects home health agencies, home medical equipment providers and the aging in place community. We’ll post news updates, industry developments, evolving risks and online resources as we become aware of them, so check in regularly for up-to-date information.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 20, 2020)—National Seating & Mobility (NSM),a provider of mobility and accessibility solutions in North America, has enacted extensive plans in response to the evolving COVID-19 (coronavirus 2019) pandemic. New procedures, guided by the NSM Disaster Preparedness Task Force, will be integrated companywide to mitigate exposure risk and support alternative service delivery options for clients during this time.
SANDWHICH, Mass. (March 19, 2020)—As information about COVID-19 continues to update rapidly, health care providers are continually seeking guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the administration on protocol for dealing with patients and adjusting their practices in these challenging circumstances.
DENVER, Colo.(March 19, 2020)—OnTerra Systems, the developers of RouteSavvy routing software for small businesses, today announced that RouteSavvy route planning software (routesavvy.com) will be free through June 30, 2020 for up to 1,000 small businesses struggling to survive during the coronavirus pandemic.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (March 19, 2019)—President Donald Trump signed HR 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act into law yesterday. The bill responds to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) by providing paid sick leave and free coronavirus testing expanding food assistance and unemployment benefits, and requiring employers to provide additional protections for health care workers.
CHICAGO (March 17, 2020)—As cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continue to increase, in-home care providers need to extend their reach into the home to support quarantine management.The CDC has recommended that providers use technology and self-assessment tools with patients who can be cared for at home.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 17, 2020)--The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced today that it will expand Medicare's telehealth coverage to allow beneficiaries to receive a wider range of services without having to travel to a health care facility in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Beginning on March 6, 2020, Medicare will temporarily pay clinicians to provide telehealth services for beneficiaries residing across the entire country.
How virtual health care can help during coronavirus outbreak
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (March 16, 2020)--With the new reality of the COVID-19 outbreak, there is a lot of focus on telehealth and on communicating remotely with patients and staff. HomeCare asked the CEO of the virtual care company Synzi, Lee Horner, a few questions about what his company and its clients are doing in response and what might come down the road in terms of remote Homecare.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (March 13, 2020)—A bipartisan coalition in Congress has introduced the Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act, legislation designed to ensure Medicare patients have access to Part B home infusion medications.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (March 11, 2020)—The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) and the American Association for Home Care (AAHomecare) have separately asked the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to act quickly on items that will help homecare providers handle the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (March 11, 2020)—A new piece of legislation could put a financial burden on home health agencies. The bill, introduced by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee, and Sen.
ORLANDO, Fla. (March 5, 2020)–The Healthcare Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) has cancelled the 2020 HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 4, 2020)—Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing several actions aimed at limiting the spread of the Novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Specifically, CMS is issuing a call to action to health care providers across the country to ensure they are implementing their infection control procedures, which they are required to maintain at all times.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (March 4, 2020)--As news outlets focus on nursing facilities' role in the spread of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), homecare disaster preparation consultants and the National Association for Homecare (NAHC) have released guidelines for home health care agencies.
AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands (Feb. 27, 2020) – Health technology company Royal Philips published its 2019 annual report this week, and in it said that the coronavirus outbreak in China is affecting both the company’s global supply chain and consumer demand there.