COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and Homecare

IRVINE, Calif. (March 19, 2021)—Masimo announced the U.S. introduction of softFlow, innovative pulmonary care therapy which provides nasal high-flow warmed and humidified respiratory gases to spontaneously breathing patients. The technology, available on the softFlow 50, offers adult patients high-flow respiratory support through a soft nasal cannula by generating a consistent high flow of warm, humidified air or air/oxygen mixture.

BALTIMORE (March 18, 2021)—One year into the COVID-19 pandemic, Senior Helpers, a provider of in-home senior care, released findings of its “Seniors: One Year in Quarantine” survey, which explores attitudes and behaviors of adults aged 65+ since March 2020, along with their feelings toward the future. Surprisingly, a majority of seniors (72%) reported they feel safer and more comfortable seeing friends and family now, even without having been vaccinated themselves.

Senior loneliness and isolation are more than just buzzwords—it’s a very real problem that only grew during the COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdowns. In 2019, up to 40% of Americans over age 45 suffered from chronic loneliness.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 10, 2021)—With the moratorium on the 2% Medicare sequester cuts currently set to expire on March 31, the American Association for Homecare and health care sector coalition partners have redoubled efforts to engage legislators in support of extending the pause on these cuts.

As a result of this outreach, an updated bill that would extend the moratorium throughout the end of 2021 may be introduced as early as this week. 

AMSTERDAM (March 10, 2021)—Royal Philips, a global provider of health technology, announced the findings of its sixth annual sleep survey in a report titled “Seeking Solutions: How COVID-19 Changed Sleep Around the World.” 

By York Schwab

ATLANTA (March 9, 2020)—When Medtrade Spring (now Medtrade West) started on March 2, 2020, we greeted friends and colleagues with handshakes and hugs. By March 3, I noticed a few people who were still shaking my hand, but they immediately disinfected with a lotion or some kind of wipe. I was taken aback, but as the day progressed I took no offense.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 25, 2021)—The American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) has moved their annual Legislative Conference to a virtual event, set to be held Sept. 29, 2021.

“While we are still not able to gather in person, a strong voice for HME in Washington remains a critical priority in advancing better public policy for our industry,” the association said in a press release.

ALBANY, New York (February 18, 2021)--At a time when homecare providers face a 50% workforce recruitment-and-retention funding cut and other reductions in New York’s state budget, the Home Care Association of New York State (HCA) has issued a report showing the devastating impact of COVID-19 on homecare operations and workforce amid a rising demand for services and escalating new costs for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other needs.

Aneri Pattani February 9, 2021

CONCORD, N.C. — It had been months since Tremellia Hobbs had an excuse to bring out the pompoms. Before the pandemic, they were a crowd favorite at movie nights and bingo tournaments that Hobbs organized as activities director at the Brian Center Health & Retirement/Cabarrus nursing home.

The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) will present an important edition in its COVID-19 Town Hall webinar series, Vaccine Hesitancy Among Caregivers.

The webinar will air on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021 from 2:00PM to 3:00PM Eastern.

The webinar is free to all, but registration is required.

By Will Stone

With millions of older Americans eligible for covid-19 vaccines and limited supplies, many continue to describe a frantic and frustrating search to secure a shot, beset by uncertainty and difficulty. 

The efforts to vaccinate people 65 and older have strained under the enormous demand that has overwhelmed cumbersome, inconsistent scheduling systems.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 2, 2021)—The U.S. Department of Labor announced that its Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued stronger worker safety guidance to help employers and workers implement a coronavirus protection program and better identify risks which could lead to exposure and contraction. President Biden recently directed OSHA to release clear guidance for employers to help keep workers safe from COVID-19 exposure.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 1, 2021)—The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a fifth amendment to the Declaration under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) to add additional categories of qualified persons authorized to prescribe, dispense, and administer COVID-19 vaccines authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 26, 2021)— The Health and Human Services Department’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has launched an audit of home health services provided through telehealth during the COVID-19 public health emergency to verify that providers aren’t doing more than they’re supposed to do to qualify for reimbursement.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 26, 2021)—The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has written a letter to all the nation’s governors to inform them that the current public health emergency (PHE), caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, will last all of 2021 and possibly into 2022.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 26, 2021)—Rep. Mike Thompson (D-California), founder and co-chair of the Congressional Telehealth Caucus, along with caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Peter Welch (D-Vermont), Bill Johnson (R-Ohio) and David Schweikert (R-Arizona) and caucus member Rep. Doris Matsui (D-California)announced the reintroduction of the Protecting Access to Post-COVID-19 Telehealth Act.