Bill seeks new structure, staff and standards for national LTC ombudsman program
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jul 23, 2024
Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) have introduced a bill to strengthen and expand long-term care ombudsman programs, calling for a new national director and a study to better understand the number...
Senator renews call for surveyor funding after staffing rule release
By
Kimberly Marselas
Sep 15, 2023
An influential senator is renewing his calls for increased funding for state survey agencies, following the release earlier this month of a federal staffing minimum that would require extensive on-site...
Aging committee chair delivers another broadside about nursing home surveys
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Jul 28, 2023
A powerful US senator is bringing added firepower in his quest to fix what he sees as major issues with state surveys of nursing homes. It’s an effort that had one leading advocate channeling Alanis...
Nursing home oversight ‘a system in crisis,’ Senate committee finds
By
Kimberly Marselas
May 19, 2023
Oversight of the nation’s 15,000-plus nursing homes is “in crisis,” with many facilities more than a year overdue for routine inspections and nine states reporting more than half their surveyor positions...
State’s new workforce law could be national model to solve SNF staffing problems
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Mar 28, 2023
A new law in Kentucky could serve as a national model to help stem the workforce crisis in nursing homes through public-private partnerships to fund education programs for more nurses and aides.
‘More must be done’ by providers for emergency prep: Senate report
By
Kimberly Marselas
Feb 24, 2023
Massive power failures and widespread evacuations caused by severe weather should be taken as a “warning sign” that US nursing homes remain unprepared for emergencies and the coming effects of climate...
Senators push CMS to issue — and fund — federal nursing home staffing mandate soon
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Feb 13, 2023
A group of Senators is urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to proceed as quickly as possible with setting a minimum staffing mandate for nursing homes.
Senate leader who instigated SFF crackdown wants even tougher measures — and more funding — for...
By
Joe Bush
Oct 24, 2022
skilled nursing facilities, the key Senate leader who instigated the crackdown said he wanted even more oversight — as well as more funding — for providers.
Key senator pressures state survey agencies over staffing-related delays
By
Kimberly Marselas
Sep 13, 2022
Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (D-PA) is demanding state survey agencies report information on extensive delays, staffing shortages and other challenges in the nursing home inspection process.
Lawmaker wants more surveys for Special Focus Facility nursing homes
By
Danielle Brown
May 10, 2022
A key U.S. lawmaker is calling on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to address reported lags in surveys of nursing homes in the Special Focus Facility program after finding that 1 in 5 are overdue...