Nursing Aide

It's said approximately 90% of direct long-term care is performed by aides, and it is that category of worker that will be highlighted at a daylong summit Thursday in the nation's capital. The invitation-only event will feature a keynote address by Gerri Fiala, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Employment & Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. Stakeholders involved in eldercare, research and policy will conduct panel sessions focusing on current and future conditions.

A recent Washington Post analysis of the use of "ultra-high" reimbursement categories for nursing homes "paints a negative, incomplete picture of the growing role and tangible benefits associated with skilled nursing facility (SNF) patient care," two leading long-term care advocates said.

The Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services has released a report highlighting recommendations, including some that could affect nursing homes.