August 23, 2024

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The Latest News

Meet and Greet for Area House and Senate Candidates in the South Central Kansas area

September 10, 2024

4:30PM - 6:30PM

Wichita, KS

Hear from candidates on their ties to health care.

Click here for additional details.

Click here for a real-time candidate RSVP list.

New COVID Vaccines Approved for the 2024-2025 Respiratory Virus Season

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved updated COVID-19 vaccines for the 2024-2025 respiratory virus season. These vaccines are specifically formulated to target currently circulating variants, which have led to a recent surge in COVID-19 infections nationwide.

Residents of long term care facilities are strongly encouraged to receive a COVID-19 vaccine this fall. The FDA states that individuals 12 years and older are eligible to receive a single dose of the updated Comirnaty (Pfizer) or Spikevax (Moderna) vaccines. If previously vaccinated, the dose should be administered at least two months after the last dose of any COVID-19 vaccine.

With the approval of these COVID-19 vaccines, alongside the already approved influenza and RSV vaccines, long term care providers should contact their pharmacy or vaccine supplier to arrange ordering for administration this fall.

For additional support and information, providers can access AHCA/NCAL's #GetVaccinated campaign for resources.

Click here for additional details.

AHCA/NCAL Report Shows Nursing Homes Closing At An "Alarming Rate" Due To Economic Pressures, Workforce Shortages

Skilled Nursing News (8/22, Siddiqi) reports, "The crisis of access to nursing home care across the United States has deepened – and is projected to get worse." A report (PDF) from AHCA/NCAL "released Thursday shows that nursing homes have shut down at an alarming rate, driven by economic pressures and workforce shortages, with the recent federal mandate only threatening to exacerbate the situation." The group’s "2024 Access to Care report notes that at least 774 facilities closed their doors between February 2020 and July 2024, displacing over 28,000 residents." AHCA/NCAL President and CEO Mark Parkinson said, "It’s not hyperbole to say access to care is a national crisis. Nursing homes are closing at a rate much faster than they are opening, and yet with each passing day, our nation grows older. ... Providers are doing everything they can to protect and expand access to care, but without support from policymakers, access to care remains under threat."

McKnight’s Long-Term Care News (8/22, Towhey) says the report also revealed that "46% percent of nursing homes are currently having to limit new admissions," 57% "have a waiting list for new residents," and 20% "have closed a unit, wing, or floor due to labor shortages."

McKnight’s Senior Living (8/23, Gaivin) also reports.

In Case You Missed It

KHCA Annual Business Meeting

The Annual Business Meeting, held during the Kansas Health Care Association’s 74th Annual Convention and Trade Show is scheduled as follows:

Friday, September 27, 2024

10:00- 11:00 AM

Kansas Star Event Center

785 Kansas Star Drive

Mulvane, KS 67110

Please plan to attend.

Click here to view reports as they become available. The member login information is required.

FTC Non-Competes Ban Update – No Longer Effective Sept. 4th

As noted previously by AHCA/NCAL, on April 23, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) Final Non-Compete Rule was released and was scheduled to go into effect 120 days after publication in the Federal Register (effective September 4, 2024).

The rule would make nearly all preexisting and future U.S. non-compete agreements with workers unenforceable, except for preexisting non-compete agreements with “senior executives.” The AHCA/NCAL summary released earlier this year on the rule can be found here .

Yesterday, a federal judge in Texas barred the FTC rule from taking effect. The U.S. District Judge said the FTC does not have the authority to ban practices it deems unfair methods of competition by adopting broad rules.

Education Spotlight