The federal government this week issued updated guidelines to nursing homes for COVID-19 prevention and control, including new recommendations regarding visitation, physical distancing, and quarantining. In issuing the updated recommendations on March 29, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stressed that even as nursing homes relax...
With millions of COVID-19 vaccinations having been administered to nursing home residents and staff, the federal government is now encouraging in-person visitation in nursing homes. On March 10, 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updated its guidance to facilities regarding in-person visitation. Importantly, the updated...
Long-term care providers and other businesses and entities in Wisconsin now have broad, but not unlimited, immunity from liability related to COVID-19 exposure, under a bill signed into law by Governor Tony Evers on February 25. The immunity provision is included in a bill addressing the State’s unemployment insurance program, which received...
By: Anne V. O'Meara, Laurie E. Meyer, and Anthony J. Steffek On September 11, 2020, the Department of Labor (DOL) released its second interpretation of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The new DOL rule, which took effect on September 16, revised the original rule’s definition of “health care provider” to provide up to twelve...
By: Abby S. Busler The Center for Disease Control (“CDC”) has issued 60 pages of detailed guidance to reopen businesses, health care facilities and providers, schools, transit, and other industries. This guidance also provides information regarding testing and data to assist with exposure and risk concerns for those industries. The following is...
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued recommendations on May 18 to state and local officials across the country for when nursing homes can relax certain restrictions on visitation, screening, and services related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The recommendations envision moving in three phases. Nursing homes would “reopen” more...
By: Alec Dobson The state will begin publishing a list of nursing homes in Wisconsin with current confirmed cases of COVID-19, the Wisconsin Health Care Association reported Thursday. The disclosures will begin Monday, May 11, on the Department of Health Services’ website. Also: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced Wednesday...
By: Bruce B. Deadman Some media outlets, commentators and business organizations have expressed concern that as they return employees to work, employers may have potential liability on a variety of fronts. This came true for employers who have “first responders” in an important provision of the coronavirus relief package signed into law by...
By: Alec Dobson Health care providers in Wisconsin now have immunity from civil liability, subject to certain exceptions, for death, injury or other damages caused by their services during the coronavirus emergency. The immunity provision is part of the wide-ranging coronavirus relief law which received final approval in the Legislature on April...
By: Alec Dobson The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has established two temporary, emergency programs with relaxed training requirements to help nursing homes increase nurse aide staffing to help meet the increased demands posed by COVID-19. The DHS announcement on April 9 implements Governor Tony Evers’ Emergency Order No. 21, which was...
