Nursing Homes Brace for End of Pandemic Waivers as Covid Wanes

Nursing homes face an uncertain return to normal this month when the federal government reinstates most of the industry regulations that were either waived or relaxed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is alerting the nation’s 14,000-plus nursing homes that the scheduled end of the public health emergency May 11 will also terminate numerous emergency waivers, regulations and guidance that suspended requirements and helped facilities to expand capacity, reduce administrative burden, and devote more attention to keeping staff and residents safe.

The waivers included streamlining admissions for Medicare beneficiaries discharged from hospitals, delaying mental health ...