What the Kirkland verdict means for emergency preparedness
By
Norris Cunningham
May 29, 2023
There is little doubt that leaders at Life Care Centers of America breathed a huge sigh of relief, as did the entire skilled nursing industry, when a federal jury found that Life Care Center of Kirkland,...
Stricter audits may be on the horizon from the OIG
By
Norris Cunningham
Kennedy Bunch
Devin Zimmerman
Jan 11, 2023
Long-term care facilities and providers should brace themselves for what may be an uptick in enforcement activity from Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCUs) in the coming year. In 2023, the U.S. Department...
An analysis of PREP Act immunity for LTC facilities
By
Norris Cunningham
Angela Rinehart
Dec 04, 2022
A host of lawsuits over the past two years involve nursing homes where patients or their estates allege that patients contracted COVID-19 due to the facilities’ negligence or failure to properly act. ...
The elephant in the room: Are you prepared for the next emergency?
By
Angela Rinehart
Norris Cunningham
Sep 30, 2022
Historically, emergency preparedness programs in long-term care facilities have been less prioritized, with facilities understandably focusing on patient care and operations. But with the pandemic...
An update on President Biden’s initiatives for long-term care
By
Angela Rinehart
Norris Cunningham
Jul 25, 2022
President Joe Biden gave his State of the Union address on March 1, 2022. Markedly, he announced his intention to “set higher standards for nursing homes” to “make sure your loved ones get the care...
Are you compliant? Up to date vs. fully vaccinated
By
Norris Cunningham
Angela Rinehart
Jun 27, 2022
Remember the confusion over who was eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine and when? Remember the confusion over the COVID-19 vaccine mandates? Remember the confusion over the approval for the COVID-19 booster...
Notable nursing home case headed to SCOTUS
By
Norris Cunningham
Angela Rinehart
May 23, 2022
Talevski v. Health and Hospital Corporation, et al., has potentially far-reaching implications and could significantly increase the number of claims against nursing homes and the cost of such claims.
Ban on arbitration of sexual assault, harassment disputes will hit LTC
By
Norris Cunningham
Barb Killian
Feb 28, 2022
Congress passed H.R. 4445 on February 7, 2022. The bill, titled “Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021,” is important to long-term care facilities that enter...
HHS enforces early COVID-19 infection control penalties despite ambiguities
By
Norris Cunningham
Angela Rinehart
Jan 21, 2022
Infection control penalties upheld against the facility with the first known COVID-19 outbreak reinforce need for implementation – not just policy.
While staffing shortages have plagued the long-term care industry for quite some time, the coronavirus pandemic has certainly shone a spotlight on the issue and worsened it. At the start of...