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What We’re Reading: Worker Heat Safety; COVID-19 Anxiety; Nursing Home Staffing Rule
Rising temperatures demand action against heat-related illnesses; school superintendents face complex decisions as COVID-19 cases rise; national staffing standards for nursing homes present challenges.
Federal Heat Safety Standards Needed to Protect Workers
With temperatures soaring due to climate change, the absence of federal regulations to protect workers from extreme heat is putting their health and safety at risk, according to Kaiser Health News. While some states have implemented their own standards, a lack of nationwide guidelines leaves many workers vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. Urgent bipartisan support is needed to accelerate the implementation of federal heat safety standards to ensure the well-being of outdoor and indoor workers in increasingly sweltering conditions, according to lawmakers and employees interviewed.
Schools Grapple With COVID-19 Resurgence Amid Lack of Federal Guidance
As COVID-19 cases surge in some parts of the United States, school districts are faced with the challenge of navigating pandemic-related decisions without comprehensive federal guidance, according to The Hill. Few schools have implemented mass closures or mask mandates thus far, and school leaders are making decisions in collaboration with local health authorities and communities. In the absence of specific national guidance, school administrators find themselves in a precarious position as they balance the health needs of students and staff with the potential for politicized blowback.
Challenges Loom Around Proposed Nursing Home Staffing Minimums
The Biden administration recently proposed national staffing standards for nursing homes, which require providing patients with at least 3 dedicated hours of care each day and having a registered nurse on site 24/7, according to Axios. While nursing home lobbying groups have criticized the policy as costly and burdensome, some experts believe it's a middle-of-the-road requirement that could guard against low-performing facilities. However, concerns persist about the ability to find and afford enough staff to meet the requirements, indicating the need for additional workforce support in the industry.
Examining Low-Value Cancer Care Trends Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 25th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the April 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on the rates of low-value cancer care services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
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A new federal rule will enable thousands of immigrants in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to obtain health care through the Affordable Care Act; a forthcoming CMS rule is expected to lower home-based care wait times and raise caregiver wages; the HHS Office for Civil Rights has finalized 2 rules that strengthen the ACA’s health care discrimination ban.
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Navigating Health Policy in an Election Year: Insights From Dr Dennis Scanlon
April 2nd 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with Dennis Scanlon, PhD, the editor in chief of The American Journal of Accountable Care®, about prior authorization, price transparency, the impact of health policy on the upcoming election, and more.
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Initiating BP Medication Linked to Higher Fall, Fracture Risks in Nursing Home Residents
May 2nd 2024Among over 60,000 nursing home residents who initiated antihypertensive medication, rates of excess fractures due to falls per 100 person-years were as high as 5 among certain patient groups, such as those with dementia and high blood pressure (BP).
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