COVID-19 is devastating even nursing homes. The administration Trump does not do much to stop it

COVID-19 is devastating even nursing homes. The administration Trump does not do much to stop it

At least 75,000 Americans in nursing homes and other structures have long-term care as soon as they died COVID-19 and the devastation is far from over. After falling earlier this summer, the death toll is now rising again, and as the campaign heads into the fall season and the flu, millions of Americans require long-term institutional care remains the biggest risk. But Trump administration has so far a lot of talk and talk largely failed. The White House has trumpeted its commitment to personal protective equipment (PPE) and test materials to send to long-term care facilities, but the supplies that were sometimes actually arrived unusable limited in quantity and. The for Medicare Center and Medicaid Services (CMS) has increased its requirements, as they often have personal care homes and test residents, but failed so far that the facilities to ensure it has access to all the evidence they kit needs, and this week, Senate Republicans sang their version of the new scale of a bill crown relief design, but it contained no funds specifically for long-term care facilities, among the hardest hit places in the country. What the government needs to prioritize who need long-term care nursing homes and other facilities hampered in the Midwest and South, where infection rates are high. Industry experts say the make Trump Administration harder motion for class institutions to implement from the first surge in New York has learned, Massachusetts, Michigan, so that a new wave of home care for fault deaths avoided and It caused some nursing homes to close their doors. “It ‘s quite frustrating and disappointing,” said David Grabowski, professor of health policy at Harvard Medical School. “We really had many opportunities and still at COVID in nursing homes, and yet we are not a national priority.” Coordinate a, flask ‘a federal response since the first outbreak in a nursing home in Seattle-area in March, it is clear that the strike pandemic hard in long-term care facilities in which to make many older and sick, or unable himself to the residents, are among the most vulnerable COVID-19 the type of congregate settings and personal care residents require transmission together. In the early months of the pandemic, many structures-the support the long-term control of infections already understaffed and under normal encrypted fight over the crown times, along with scientists and the rest of the audience to learn. But since then, research has shown that the spread of infection in the community the biggest factor outbreaks in nursing homes is to predict. And what needs to happen to keep the nursing home residents safe is no longer a secret. Studies have shown that the higher personnel associated with a lower likelihood of experiencing an outbreak, and some died because the facilities are equipped with more employees able to limit their contacts to deal with new tasks related COVID and replace those who get sick. Equipment should be access to the PSA test, and workers and residents will be able frequently to prevent, it asked about the spread of the virus and infected quarantined. But now they meet one of these criteria is difficult: the institutions for personal combat intake and maintain PSA has better availability, but not consistently and testing remains a patchwork nightmare, time and money surfing. “We saw a real fiasco at the federal level, to secure the supply chains we need,” says Tamara R. Konetzka, research professor at the University of Chicago, who has testified before Congress about the May ‘ effect of COVID-19 retirement homes. “It takes a coordinated effort of politics, and it is hard to imagine that you are suddenly happen and happen quickly.” Bags of public transport that the new requirements, the Department of Health and Human Services appears to the realization that the procurement supplies is still a problem. announced on Tuesday that there are some 750,000 point-of-care tests COVID-19 Abbott manufacturers to nursing homes next week to send, they can use at their facilities. To add these antigen test, which provides free department in a previous round of antigen testing machines manufactured by BD and Quidel that began last month sent to nursing homes. together with a limited amount of testing, Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Brett Giroir said in a call Tuesday with the administrators of the nursing home industry leaders and HHS now has distributed more than 13,400 of these testing machines. But while the leaders of the nursing home have applauded moves on the HHS call, many expressed several times that the government’s deliveries were not enough. Several leading nursing home said that with the new requirements Trump Directors do not have a sufficient number of tests and consultants to keep, they announced last month. It ‘a press conference held sentiment was repeated on Wednesday from LeadingAge, a trade group for the non-profit senior care providers across the country. The new administrative application for allocation counties Checklist to “red” categories according to their rate of positive COVID-19 test “green”, “yellow”, or, and nursing homes to test them more often two employees times week, depending on the severity of their place. You need to check all occupants during an epidemic or whenever a new COVID-19 is identified case. Services may threaten steep penalties if you do not have to meet and continue to test Medicare and Medicaid to get the refund, which is the main source of income of the sector. These requirements are fine in theory, say the experts, but do not reflect the reality on the ground. When to test nursing homes at the required frequency, we run free delivery of the tests made available by HHS quickly. long-term care facilities that are often stretched financially, further tests are needed to buy it yourself. asked a participant on Tuesday to call Giroir, CMS administrator Seema Verma and other officials if they could provide advice on how to comply with the rules and “stay financially afloat.” The participants said that their structures, the “red” in a circle are arranged short of testing supplies would be within a week and a half, and that she was concerned about the time it would take to play their staff all the necessary tests . “We have barely keep personnel in transition, let alone meet these requirements. So I’d like your input,” he said, his voice breaking with emotion. Giroir responded that the new Abbott test coverage are about half of this load test for plants “red light district”, and that while the exact distribution models are still being developed will help them continue weekly programs up to November or December. But, Giroir said HHS commitment to supply nursing homes is “undefined.” “As we transition to a free market structure, we know you have a couple of weeks of instability, as we get the distribution channels down,” said Giroir on call. “We will work with you on this, and you have our commitment that we are going to do everything we can to make this seamless.” COVID-19 could care home, say experts unsustainable ‘and nursing home administrators, are skeptical of the government’s plan. Harvard Grabowski says the idea of ​​a “market structure” does not work for nursing homes that rely on Medicaid and Medicare for most of their money. “The idea is that they go there with many other needy people in trial competition, from schools to the workplace, you name it, it’s going to really put residents at risk and their employees,” he says. Grabowski and other experts say that frequent testing is necessary to contain the spread of COVID-19, but it is consistent with providers of long-term care that will probably need more support to keep up. Recently relationship co-author of an article in the journal Health Affairs, which was shown in five nursing homes still “serious” lack of IPR and personnel. And as providers of long-term care more tests will need to make their increasingly precarious financial situation. The staff problem is even thornier. Nursing homes usually work on thin margins and long-term care for the working poor black women are poorly paid and overworked in better times. fall during the pandemic were themselves sick employees to stay home to care for family members or children who have attended school off and leave the camp for less dangerous jobs. While Democrats in Congress for danger pay for frontline workers pushed this spring and are contained in its statement of relief that passed the House in May it does not have a federal plan approved. Without specific money dedicated to salaries of workers, the long-term care facilities say they can not hire the staff they need. A recent survey by the American Health Care Association, which represents the long-term care provider nonprofit, found that 72% say its members that they can another year with their current operating cost increases and revenue lost They do not hold, while 40% said they can not take another six months. LeadingAge said on Wednesday that he already knows of three member institutions that close because of the crown-related costs, and that others spend tens of thousands every month examination and PSA. If the current situation continues a truly coordinated plan federal aid without Katie Smith said Sloan, president and CEO of LeadingAge “concern that our members do not offer sustainable”.
Photo copyright Robert Miguel The Brownsville Herald / AP