Outlook 2022: With doors remaining closed, nursing homes hope new services will open a window of opportunity
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jan 03, 2022
Nearly 60% of skilled nursing managers expect they’ll have to continue restricting admissions in 2022, as census challenges fueled by staffing shortages and COVID-19 surges continue to threaten facilities’...
Prosecutors target nursing homes that reject patients needing opioid treatment
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jan 03, 2022
A Massachusetts nursing home must pay a $5,000 penalty and revise its admissions policy over an alleged refusal to accept a patient needing medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder.
‘Tunnel’ gets darker: 3 in 5 nursing home managers tell McKnight’s they expect 2022 to be worse
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jan 02, 2022
An alarming 78% of nursing home operators and workers don’t expect the workforce to return to pre-pandemic levels for at least another year — if ever. That’s just one stark finding from the McKnight’s...
Providers cautiously accept new COVID vaccine mandate guidance as SCOTUS hearing nears
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jan 02, 2022
Many skilled nursing providers continue to pursue full staff vaccination coverage as a federal mandate heads toward the Supreme Court this Friday, their efforts now driven by official enforcement guidance.
Thurlow tapped as president of LeadingAge Minnesota
By
Kimberly Marselas
Dec 30, 2021
Kari Thurlow has been named president and CEO of LeadingAge Minnesota effective Jan. 3. Thurlow was previously senior vice president of advocacy for the organization, which represents about 1,400 aging...
BREAKING: CMS details vaccination targets in new mandate guidance
By
Kimberly Marselas
Dec 29, 2021
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Tuesday issued surveyor guidance on assessing long-term care facilities’ compliance with a federal mandate for healthcare worker COVID-19 vaccinations.
Provider groups stress booster urgency, look for visitation help as omicron rages
By
Kimberly Marselas
Dec 22, 2021
A panel of healthcare experts Tuesday afternoon called urged long-term care facilities to get all eligible residents and staff a booster shot by year’s end to help protect against COVID-19’s omicron...
Criminal case could remove controversial Skyline owner from Medicaid, Medicare programs
By
Kimberly Marselas
Dec 22, 2021
Three years after his nursing home operations imploded, leaving thousands of residents in danger and staff unpaid, former Skyline Healthcare owner Joseph Schwartz is facing criminal charges in Arkansas.
As crisis builds, five rural Nebraska nursing homes close
By
Kimberly Marselas
Dec 22, 2021
Staffing pressures and Medicaid reimbursement issues being felt around the nation are leading to significant closures in rural Nebraska by year’s end.
Also in the News for Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021
Dec 22, 2021
Supreme Court justice rejects healthcare worker’s appeal of state vaccine mandate … Rhode Island nursing homes seek minimum staffing moratorium … 3rd Circuit Court sides with union in nursing homes’...