HHS chief returns focus of low COVID-19 vax rates to nursing homes
By
James M. Berklan
Jan 04, 2024
The nation’s top health official met with US nursing home leaders for the second time in two weeks Wednesday to discuss what he called concerningly low COVID-19 vaccination rates among long-term care...
‘Death spiral’ for SNFs as Medicare Advantage pay decreases
By
Kimberly Marselas
Sep 06, 2022
Pressure to accept low-ball contracts with Medicare Advantage plans that continue to reduce reimbursement is driving some skilled nursing providers into “a death spiral,” a major aging services association...
State creates nursing home ownership transparency rules ahead of federal action
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Jul 18, 2023
Connecticut has new transparency rules for nursing home owners and will require a “plain language” explanation of how Medicaid rates are set.
As new year approaches, operational and regulatory changes pile up
By
Joe Bush
Dec 21, 2022
A series of significant regulatory changes are expected to hit skilled nursing over the course of 2023, but experts are also warning providers not to lose sight of some smaller but still important changes...
CMS begins publicizing disputed nursing home deficiencies
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jan 26, 2023
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Wednesday started showing whether facilities were formally disputing cited deficiencies.
Solutions and hope may be offered at today’s House nursing home COVID-19 hearing
By
Joe Bush
Sep 21, 2022
Nursing home advocates and researchers hope today’s House subcommittee hearing will spur legislative action to help the sector recover from the ravages it’s still feeling from COVID-19.
Clinical briefs for Friday, Oct 28
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 28, 2022
More flexible CMS vaccine mandate enforcement cheers providers … Higher vitality means healthier residents, more productive workforce: report … SNFs under the microscope again on readmissions … HHS:...
Also in the News for Oct. 24, 2022
By
Joe Bush
Oct 24, 2022
Psychologist who worked with nursing homes convicted of fraud … HHS commits $13 million for nurse education and training … CMS asks for comment on information collection, including PACE info … Wyoming...
The top long-term care stories of 2023
By
James M. Berklan
Dec 18, 2023
Long-term care providers were intent on dismissing undesirable memories of the COVID-19 pandemic as much as possible in 2023, but the year’s top stories revealed there were still remnants of it to...
Some providers dubious as return to pre-COVID ‘normal’ gets official OK
By
Kimberly Marselas
Oct 07, 2022
Providers are still clamoring for answers about how to best comply with a series of new rules and recommendations issued by federal regulators over the last two weeks, officials acknowledged during a nursing...