In this week's HealthCap Weekly Wrap, we dive into five impactful stories shaping the senior living landscape. We start with a bold call from PALTmed, highlighted in McKnight's Long-Term Care News, urging providers to stop using routine PCR testing for UTIs in long-term care. That leads us into a deeper look at a new consensus statement published in JAMDA, which outlines the risks, limitations, and lack of outcome data tied to urine PCR testing—recommending a return to clinical criteria and standard cultures.

Next, we turn to reimbursement trends with a report from McKnight's on a spike in PDPM coding for conditions like schizophrenia and cognitive impairment. Is this better clinical recognition or a compliance risk? We unpack what providers need to watch for. From there, we move into practical strategy with a new guide from PharMerica on strengthening pharmacy contracts. With advice on clarifying service expectations, pricing structures, and quality metrics, this one's a must-listen for administrators and DONs.

Finally, we wrap up with a valuable resource from APIC—their updated 2024 toolkit for infection preventionists in long-term care. It includes CDC-aligned checklists, outbreak protocols, and staff training tools designed specifically for the challenges senior living communities face. For links to all the stories we discussed, head to Angie's Blog at healthcapusa.com/angies-blog. Thanks for listening!