Updated July 27 at 1:34 p.m. with new information.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 27, 2021)—As new variants of COVID-19 are on the rise and vaccination rates are stalling around the country, LeadingAge joined leading health care organizations calling for requiring vaccines for all staff in long-term care and other health care settings.

WASHIGNTON, D.C. (July 23, 2021)—A bipartisan group of Senators led by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Virginia) have introduced the Supporting Our Direct Care Workforce and Family Caregivers Act (S. 2344), a bill to provide $1 billion in grants to states and other eligible entities to support innovative projects and programs focused on recruitment, retention and training for direct care workers, as well as family caregivers.

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. (July 23, 2021)—Caregivers’ Comfort Creations, LLC, a business created to support and empower caregivers, has solutions for family caregivers who must plan and organize every single day on behalf of their loved ones. The solutions are Caregivers’ Comfort 2022 Inspirational Planning Calendars for caregivers, caregivers of veterans, and veterans caring for their loved ones. These calendars are one-of-a-kind and designed for all caregivers and their patients. 

THEODORE, Ala. (July 23, 2021)—Supreme Medical Fulfillment has become an executive sponsor of FAHCS—the Florida Alliance of Home Care Services. 

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (July 23, 2021)—IntellaTriage, a provider of after-hours nurse-based triage and telehealth solutions, announced the addition of Rob Queener as vice president of operations. Queener will preside over all non-clinical operations at the company, ensuring the development and implementation of efficient, cost-effective systems that will drive IntellaTriage’s financial and patient care objectives.   

NEW YORK (July 22, 2021)—The national, independent nonprofit FAIR Health has recently been awarded a grant from The John A. Hartford Foundation, a national organization dedicated to improving the care of older adults, to pilot a new set of shared decision-making (SDM) and other health care engagement tools geared toward older adults with serious illness. The initiative, which launched on July 1, will include a robust dissemination campaign and evaluation of the new tools.

BOSTON (July 22, 2021)—The MassHealth Medicaid program is implementing a 10% rate increase for durable medical equipment (DME) claims with dates of service effective July 1, 2021. The broad-based relief applies a 10% increase for all DME and augmentative and alternative communications codes and a 50% increase for labor code K0739, which covers repair or nonroutine service for DME other than oxygen equipment requiring a skilled technician.

PHOENIX (July 22, 2021)—It’s time to ponder a presentation for the 2022 edition of Medtrade West. Medtrade West is scheduled for April 4-6, 2022, at the Phoenix Convention Center. Your program should address one of the educational tracks listed below. Sessions are either 1 hour or 1.5 hours in length with time for Q&A.

OLD FORGE, Penn. (July 22, 2021)—Golden Technologies is excited to showcase new products in both the power lift recliner and mobility divisions at Medtrade East, the home medical equipment industry’s largest trade show, in Atlanta, Georgia, October 19 and 20, 2021. The introduction of new technology and comfort features at the show will help retailers discover new ways to drive cash sales with profit-producing products.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 21, 2021)—A top aging services organization applauded forward progress on proposals to help older Americans, but warned Congress not to walk back from critical investments in America’s aging services—including the president’s $400 billion pledge to provide home-based care for millions of older adults who need help with essentials like getting in and out of bed, bathing and eating meals.