Nursing home that took in dozens after local closure now fears for its own health
By
Josh Henreckson
Jan 26, 2024
The high cost of caring for skilled nursing patients is squeezing finances at Upstate New York’s Heritage Ministries after it took in a majority of residents from the closing Lutheran Home and Rehabilitation...
Blood test accurate, consistent at spotting Alzheimer’s, dementia-linked proteins
By
Kristen Fischer
Jan 24, 2024
A new blood test that can spot amyloid and tau in the brain should be on the market soon. The test worked well to accurately and consistently identify accumulations of the proteins implicated in Alzheimer’s...
Judge dismisses 7 of 9 COVID vaccine-exemption complaints against provider
By
Josh Henreckson
Jan 24, 2024
A US District Court judge dismissed seven out of the nine recent workplace discrimination complaints raised against a major skilled nursing provider by former employees.
With ‘hundreds’ of facilities audited over schizophrenia, CMS pursues harsher antipsychotics stance
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jan 19, 2024
With half of nursing homes audited in a new process admitting to misdiagnosing schizophrenia patients, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is extending its drive to reduce the use of certain drugs...
CMS finalizes long-awaited prior authorization rule for Medicare Advantage
By
Josh Henreckson
Jan 18, 2024
A new rule on Medicare Advantage prior authorization finalized by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Wednesday suggests good news for providers and Medicare recipients.
Nursing home illegally blocked union access: Judge
By
Josh Henreckson
Jan 17, 2024
A nursing home violated federal labor law by unilaterally limiting union access to its facility, threatening legal action and calling the police to enforce that restriction, a National Labor Relations...
$96M Medicaid funding gap menaces state’s facilities, threatens closures
By
Josh Henreckson
Jan 17, 2024
Persistent and growing Medicaid funding gaps have pushed Maine long-term care leaders to request urgent relief from the state government. The LTC reimbursement shortfall has expanded to $96 million dollars,...
$2K daily fines poised to begin ‘within days’ as NY staffing rule upheld
By
Josh Henreckson
Jan 16, 2024
Long-term care providers took a legal blow when a New York state Supreme Court judge struck down a legal challenge to the state’s staffing mandate law, and now providers could be days away from incurring...
25 nursing homes swept up in wage-withholding investigation
By
Josh Henreckson
Jan 11, 2024
The US Department of Labor has filed a complaint against the operator of 25 Massachusetts nursing homes, alleging that it systematically withheld break and overtime pay at those facilities in violation...
Nursing operator must issue back pay after abruptly ending shift-differential perk
By
Josh Henreckson
Jan 09, 2024
The National Labor Relations Board sided with a union’s request to have shift-differential pay reinstated and back pay issued after a nursing home’s new owner unilaterally ended the incentive practice...