As Medicaid disenrollments surge, concerns about nursing home residents persist
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Jun 05, 2023
Although hundreds of thousands have been knocked off state Medicaid rolls this spring, worries about dropped coverage for Medicaid-dependent nursing home residents have so far not proven reality in large…
City nears $2.2 million settlement with patients abused at public nursing home fighting to stay open
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Jun 05, 2023
A $2.2 million settlement with patients who suffered abuse at a San Francisco skilled nursing facility before it was threatened with closure moved a step closer to resolution last week.
Debt ceiling deal takes bite out of health programs. It could have been much worse
By
Hannah Recht – KFF Health News
Jun 05, 2023
Policy analysts, Democrats and Republicans dissatisfied with the deal agree: Federal health programs have dodged a budgetary bullet in the Washington showdown over raising the nation’s debt ceiling.
Also in the News for Monday, June 5
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jun 05, 2023
Continued success of joint replacement model powered by institutional post-acute care reductions: CMS … CareTrust REIT adds new West Coast SNF operator … AHCA/NCAL names latest round of Bronze Quality…
‘Impetus’ ignored: LeadingAge CEO calls on Congress, White House to act on broader threats…
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jun 02, 2023
Federal lawmakers have so far failed to seize on a critical change that could shore up the aging services sector and improve access to care for the nation’s aging population, the top advocate for nonprofit…
As staffing minimum looms, other workforce solutions simmer on back burner
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jun 02, 2023
A long-awaited federal rule that could rewrite how nursing home owners and operators staff their buildings is in the final stage of review before being released publicly.
High Court hands government a ‘clear win’ on False Claims: expert
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
Jun 02, 2023
In a pair of consolidated cases, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled Thursday that liability in False Claims Act suits depends on whether the defendants believed that their claims were false, not on whether…
Also in the News for Friday, June 2
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jun 02, 2023
Medicare plans to cover approved Alzheimer’s drugs: CMS … Rhode Island dismisses enforcement as stricter nursing home staffing rules kick in … Two nursing homes under same ownership face loss of…
BREAKING: CMS issues details on vaccine mandate’s end
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jun 01, 2023
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Wednesday afternoon issued a final rule lifting the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for healthcare workers by early August.
Nursing discrimination rampant in residential care facilities: study
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jun 01, 2023
Nurses working in nursing homes are among the most likely to face discrimination on the job, with 88% saying in a new survey that they had seen or experienced workplace racism by patients.
Docs got $22.5M in overpayments by miscoding services during SNF stays: OIG
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jun 01, 2023
Physicians billed Medicare for at least $22 million in services that should have been included under a skilled nursing stay, a new report from the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General…
Also in the News for Thursday, June 1
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jun 01, 2023
Bill aiming to stabilize residential long-term care struck down by governor … Removal of religious exemption from health network’s flu shot requirement leads to $100,000 settlement … GAO names three…
Debt ceiling deal may limit new health agency spending, jumpstart fraud efforts
By
Kimberly Marselas
May 31, 2023
A deal to avert a debt-ceiling crisis and fund the government next year could place new limits on federal health spending while also giving a boost to healthcare fraud and abuse investigations.
Support for med techs grows as nursing homes try to ease burden on RNs
By
Jessica R. Towhey
May 31, 2023
New Hampshire lawmakers are weighing a measure to funnel state funding to skilled nursing facilities that train employees as medication nursing assistants.
Unique federal-state partnership bringing nursing homes into value-based care program
By
Jessica R. Towhey
May 31, 2023
Hospitals must begin to view nursing homes as “equal partners” to ensure success in a unique state-federal partnership that aims to reduce costs and improve care, according to one advocate involved…
Also in the News for Wednesday, May 31
By
Kimberly Marselas
May 31, 2023
Childcare gaining steam as healthcare recruitment tool … Remote monitoring technology reduces hospital admissions from nursing homes … Fired administrator sues for pregnancy discrimination
Claims audit will affect every nursing home starting June 5
By
Kimberly Marselas
May 30, 2023
Every skilled nursing facility in the US will be subject to a five-claim audit starting the week of June 5 as regulators try to better assess and root out improper payments.
$900 million Medicaid boost promises relief after decade-long drought
By
Kimberly Marselas
May 30, 2023
Lawmakers this holiday weekend gave Texas skilled nursing providers a long-awaited reason to celebrate: the first increase to the state’s Medicaid base rate in 10 years and supplemental funding to help…
Iowa reforms tort law, nursing home ownership rules
By
Jessica R. Towhey
May 30, 2023
Operators are praising once-in-a-generation tort reform and new ownership rules designed to attract “good” nursing home operators as key wins in a bountiful legislative session for the skilled nursing…
Also in the News for Tuesday, May 30
By
Kimberly Marselas
May 30, 2023
CMS needs more defenses to prevent data compromise: OIG … Nursing home study reveals ‘dramatic’ fluctuations in prescribing of COVID-19 meds … On the Move: American Senior Communities announces…