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The Justice Department (DOJ) on Wednesday requested data from four governors on their orders requiring nursing homes to admit coronavirus patients. “Protecting the rights of some of society’s most vulnerable members, including elderly nursing home residents, is one of our country’s most important obligations,” Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Division Eric Dreiband said in a statement. “We must ensure they are adequately cared for with dignity and respect and not unnecessarily put at risk," he added. (Budryk, 8/26)

The U.S. Department of Justice wants Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and three other states governed by Democrats to turn over data related to nursing homes and COVID-19 deaths. The governor agreed to provide the data, but blasted the request, labeling it a partisan stump aimed at helping President Donald Trump's re-election bid. In a news release Wednesday, the department said the requests were sent to states "that issued orders which may have resulted in the deaths of thousands of elderly nursing home residents." (Boucher, 8/26)

Maryland has levied six-figure fines against three nursing homes in Montgomery County for infection control deficiencies that inspectors say placed residents in “immediate jeopardy” during the coronavirus pandemic. Collingswood Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center and Potomac Valley Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, both in Rockville, were penalized $275,000 and $120,000, respectively, following covid-19 surveys conducted by state inspectors in June, according to documents released to The Washington Post. Kensington Healthcare Center was fined $294,000 following an inspection in July. (Tan and Chason, 8/26)

Advocates for nursing home residents have raised concerns that some facilities being used by Florida officials as isolation units for those who test positive for the coronavirus have a checkered history of citations. Despite official assurances that the facilities have been fully vetted, it's a move they say could further endanger those who are already highly vulnerable. (Romero and Mosk, 8/26)

Long-term care officials told Oklahoma lawmakers Wednesday that more needs to be done to allow in-person visitation at nursing homes and other facilities amid the COVID-19 pandemic. During an interim study on COVID-19’s impact on residents in long-term care facilities hosted by the House of Representatives subcommittee on health services, officials said residents are facing increased depression, anxiety and symptoms of dementia because of the prolonged isolation. (Branch, 8/27)