With Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine and President Biden’s new push for nursing home reforms, we’ve been reminded that history-defining moments do not always qualify as “great.”
Since the administration unveiled its 21-point reform plan, providers have railed about the government’s “tone deaf” quest to impose staffing minimums and much more during a public health emergency.
It’s clear that as the pandemic begins to wane, the adrenaline to “fix” or avenge perceived negatives has picked up. For some, that means painting nursing home operators as perpetrators.
When it comes to COVID-19, many providers feel like a live grenade was rolled into their tent. Now, they’re being blamed for not having thick enough walls to contain the blast.
Nonetheless, operators should welcome many of the government’s proposals.
Is there any real reason facility owners — who are accepting millions in government funding — shouldn’t be more clearly known to the public?
And if the lousiest performers never manage to improve — again, while absorbing healthy doses of government funding annually — shouldn’t the profession’s own members hope for some housecleaning? If not to improve everyone’s reputation, then perhaps to make sure they’re not being played for hard-working suckers by less conscientious peers?
In some instances, it seems like the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services “ripped from the headlines” to devise proposals, just like producers creating storylines for “Law & Order.”
Take proposals that aim to shut down jurisdictional loopholes and keep a closer eye on questionable ownership practices. You might think regulators were reacting to headlines about the former Skyline nursing home chain and its besieged former owner, Joseph Schwartz.
Seeing fewer headlines about situations like these could only help all involved. What also can be viewed as helpful are CMS plans to offer providers technical assistance and prod states to provide better Medicaid payments.
There are certainly onerous implications for providers in what the White House sprang on operators. But it should be recognized that not everything on the feds’ wish list is equally threatening. Above all, providers may take solace in the fact that while momentous events may be unfolding around us, the history books have yet to be written.
