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Community-based Care

Florida's Medicaid HMO program could lead to 'granny dumping'

June 16, 2011

A lesser known provision of Florida's newly adopted Medicaid reform law includes an incentive for health plans that can reduce the number of seniors in nursing homes, according to Florida elder law attorney Ellen Morris.

CMS to release more than $2 billion in grants for community-based long-term care services program

July 28, 2010

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Monday disclosed it will provide $2.25 billion in grants to expand the Money Follows the Person (MFP) Rebalancing demonstration. This program seeks to find community-based alternatives to traditional long-term care facilities.

Illinois to move 4,500 mentally ill from nursing homes to community care settings

March 16, 2010

Nearly 4,500 of Illinois' mentally ill nursing home residents soon will have the option of moving into community-based programs, according to the terms of a groundbreaking settlement between the state and the American Civil Liberties Union.

Disabled protestors arrested in Community Choice Act demonstration

May 01, 2009

Protesters from the Service Employees International Union and the disability rights group ADAPT turned out en masse this week to protest President Obama's perceived lack of support for the Community Choice Act. The measure would give home- and community-based services the same consideration under Medicaid that nursing homes receive.

Long-term care organizations praise CMS post-acute pilot project

April 15, 2009

Many in the long-term care community are supporting the Care Transitions Project, a government initiative to improve healthcare processes and minimize rehospitalizations.

Officials rap home healthcare providers over fraudulent billing, abusive practices

March 16, 2009

Home healthcare, the fast-growing destination for many individuals who previously might have sought nursing home care, has been besieged by a spate of fraudulent Medicare reimbursement practices, government investigators say. Overstating a person's healthcare needs - or upcoding - is a significant problem, the government Accountability Office found.

Study finds home healthcare settings have many unsafe conditions

March 06, 2009

A recent study has identified a number of hazardous conditions found in home healthcare settings--conditions that are of special concern to both the elderly and their caretakers.

Long-term care reform hearing focuses on dual eligibles, home-based services

March 05, 2009

Public and private sector officials convened Wednesday to discuss the important role long-term care reform could play in a grander, overall healthcare reform scheme.

Study shows nursing homes beginning to lose funding dominance to HCBS

March 04, 2009

A handful of states are now spending more of their Medicaid funding on home- and community-based services than on nursing home care, according to a new report from AARP. The study also found that nursing home occupancy rates have remained static over the last five years, while HCBS funding has soared.

Design decisions: planting and maintaining a facility garden

Brett Bakshis March 01, 2009

It won't be long before residents of Island Nursing and Rehab Center get their hands dirty in their newly planted Garden Of Hope.

Rhode Island caps Medicaid spending for five years

January 23, 2009

Rhode Island is experimenting with Medicaid spending caps, a controversial move that has grabbed the national spotlight.

Congressional Budget Office analyzes long-term care policies

January 05, 2009

States may not have the infrastructure to support a potential increase in home- and community-based services, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The agency released a report highlighting the projected costs and ramifications of more than 100 healthcare policies, including many proposed for long-term care.

Major new Medicaid rule exempts nursing home residents

December 04, 2008

A major new Medicaid regulation gives states "unprecedented flexibility" in configuring their Medicaid programs. Exempted from the rule are nursing home residents, Medicare beneficiaries and medically frail individuals who have freedom of choice in participating in new coverage offerings.

Caregivers provide $375 billion in free services during 2007

November 26, 2008

The estimated market value of unpaid care to family and friends last year was $375 billion, according to AARP.

Nursing home suicide rates have not improved in 15 years

November 24, 2008

While instances of suicide among community-dwelling seniors have fallen in recent years, the same has not been true for long-term care residents, according to a recent study.

Community activities reduce rates of chronic disease in older population

November 18, 2008

Community-based physical activity programs cost effectively reduce instances of heart disease, stroke and other chronic diseases among residents of those communities, according to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Study: Medicaid continues to underpay nursing homes

October 07, 2008

Medicaid paid nursing home operators an average of $13.72 less than allowable costs per resident day in 2006. That is a shortfall of $4.6 billion overall, according to preliminary results of an annual study released Monday at the American Health Care Association's annual conference in Nashville.

Agencies to give $36 million to states for home-and community-based care

September 30, 2008

Twenty-eight states will receive $36 million in grant programs to help older Americans, veterans and people with Alzheimer's receive home- and community-based care, the Department of Health and Human Services said Monday.

Thousands of nursing home residents rebel against perceived institutional bias

September 24, 2008

More than 8,000 nursing home residents have filed a federal, class-action lawsuit in Florida, claiming they are being forced to live in facilities against their wishes. Plaintiffs accuse the nursing-home lobby of pressuring state lawmakers to make it harder for individuals to receive Medicaid-covered home- and community-based care.

Republicans propose expanding home care in party platform

August 28, 2008

The draft of the Republican party's 2008 platform calls for new non-institutional long-term care options.

Democrats include long-term care reform in policy platform

August 21, 2008

The Democratic Party has included long-term care reform as a plank in its policy platform.

Deaths of developmentally disabled in home-care settings should get closer reviews: GAO

July 09, 2008

States should more thoroughly investigate deaths of people with developmental disabilities who were receiving home- and community-based services for care, according to a new government report. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should pressure states to review such deaths more closely, the Government Accountability Office says.

60 Seconds with...

May 01, 2008

Anna Ortigara, Communications director, Green House® Project

Report provides road map for LTC financing

March 19, 2008

A long-term care reference tool released Tuesday takes into account new market forces that are shaping the future of long-term care.

Governor proposes $21 million expansion of community care

February 19, 2008

Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen (R) has called for a "fundamental restructuring" of long-term care in his state, including expanding options beyond nursing home care.