States need to step up with nurse aide waiver clearer, providers say
By
Kimberly Marselas
Aug 31, 2022
The formal extension of a waiver program that relaxes certification requirements for some nurse aides was widely embraced by providers a day after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced...
Layering of fines amid state, federal staffing rule conflicts tops providers’ worry list
By
Kimberly Marselas
May 02, 2024
Providers in states that have recently increased their own nursing home staffing requirements may soon find themselves playing a complicated penalties and numbers game — and buried in additional paperwork.
Bill to block staffing rule, other LTC measures to headline Congressional hearing
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 29, 2024
A bill that many providers view as the best bet to upend the federal nursing home staffing mandate finalized last week will get another hearing in Congress Tuesday.
Nursing homes reimagine frontline roles, seek smoother regulatory pathways
By
Kimberly Marselas
Feb 22, 2023
In the wake of a historic shortage of nurses and assistants, America’s nursing homes have been forced to get creative when it comes to hiring, scheduling and retaining workers.
MedPAC members rip ‘brute force test’ of staffing mandate, ponder consequences and possible gaming
By
Kimberly Marselas
Oct 06, 2023
A key Congressional advisory panel expressed deep skepticism Thursday over the proposed federal nursing home staffing mandate and whether it would address ongoing quality concerns in the post-acute care...
July/August state news
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jul 07, 2023
Texas skilled nursing providers in May got their first increase in the Medicaid base rate in 10 years, along with supplemental funding to help providers stay afloat until that new rate kicks in this September.
Is pay pain reaching its peak after another year of impressive wage growth?
By
Kimberly Marselas
Nov 11, 2022
After a two-year stretch in which nursing homes’ largest employee group made salary gains approaching 20%, relief for cash-strapped providers may be in sight, even if far on the horizon.
[UPDATED] CMS issues first-ever nursing home staffing mandate
By
James M. Berklan
Kimberly Marselas
Sep 01, 2023
US nursing homes would have at least three years to provide a minimum of 0.55 hours of care by a registered nurse and 2.45 hours by a nurse aide per resident day under a first-ever proposed federal staffing...
The carrot vs. the stick
By
Kimberly Marselas
Oct 06, 2022
As many states have moved to tighten regulations in lockstep with the federal focus on nursing home reform, there’s often been an unexpected guest at the negotiating table.
Threat of devastating ‘bad debt’ grows as nursing home billing offices flounder
By
Kimberly Marselas
Aug 18, 2023
Unheard of staffing shortages in nursing home billing offices are leading to billing lapses and major uncollectible or ‘bad’ debt amounts. A $4 million case in Connecticut is fueling observers’ concerns...