Staffing, Medicaid policy force nursing homes to ‘self-limit’ access
Apr 09, 2024
One in four skilled nursing beds is offline in Pennsylvania, with providers tying reduced access directly to a lack of frontline staff and Medicaid payment shortfalls. But that’s no one-state issue,...
Ombudsman demands audit of agency that regulates state’s nursing homes
By
Josh Henreckson
Apr 08, 2024
A report from the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman in Oregon has called for an independent audit of the state’s Department of Human Services, arguing that the regulatory body missed multiple red...
Also in the News for Monday, April 8, 2024
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 08, 2024
Long-term care industry needs to raise the bar for onboarding: survey … Lawmakers embrace bill prohibiting LTC owners or staff from becoming guardians of residents … Change Healthcare facing at least...
Behavior problems — not financial motivation — most often precede forced SNF discharges: OIG
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 04, 2024
Nursing homes most often initiated a discharge because a resident’s behavior endangered the resident or others in the facility, a rationale fully within their rights, a government watchdog reported Wednesday.
CMS provides first look at shorter, Risk-Based Survey process
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 04, 2024
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Wednesday revealed initial information about a potential “Risk-Based Survey” option that could be available to some of the nation’s best performing...
How LTC facilities can use communication technology to avoid compliance traps
By
Gary Hamilton
Frances Carroll
Apr 02, 2024
“If it is not documented, it is not done” is a fundamental rule of healthcare. For those who work in long-term care (LTC) and skilled nursing, a relevant version of this rule is, “If a staff member...
[UPDATED] BREAKING: CMS proposes 4.1 percent nursing homes pay boost; staffing minimum not addressed
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 29, 2024
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Thursday proposed a 4.1% pay increase for nursing homes in fiscal 2025 but declined to issue an update on its staffing minimum proposal as part of its annual...
When a pay raise isn’t enough, you know there’s trouble
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 29, 2024
Newcomers to the long-term care game may not believe it, but there once was a time when the announcement of the next year’s proposed Medicare payment bump was the hottest ticket around.
The future of long-term care recruitment and retention: How experts can better attract and retain quality...
Mar 28, 2024
Even though wages and benefits have increased for the long-term care workforce, the sector still suffers from an ongoing shortage of skilled caregivers. Innovative solutions, however, have shown the potential...
Spring refresh: Top of license practice
By
Renee Kinder
Mar 28, 2024
As the warmth of spring unfolds, it brings with it a renewal of energy and vitality. Spring symbolizes growth, rejuvenation and transformation. Growing in my backyard, in the midst of pebbles, three beautiful...