Keeping workers will be biggest struggle for nursing homes as pandemic persists, national policy expert...
By
Danielle Brown
Sep 30, 2020
Workforce challenges that have plagued long-term care operators during the coronavirus pandemic will get worse as the crisis further progresses this year, one of the nation’s top health policy analysts...
‘Balance has tipped’: It’s time to ease up on visitation regulations, nursing homes tell feds
By
Danielle Brown
Feb 25, 2021
Long-term care providers are calling on the federal government to remove regulations that base nursing home indoor visitations on COVID-19 positivity rates in the area now that vaccine coverage is widespread...
‘Significant ramp-up’ of vaccinations coming for long-term care; AHCA happy with process
By
Danielle Brown
Jan 07, 2021
Vaccination efforts in long-term care facilities are expected to accelerate noticeably in the coming days and weeks, the nation’s top federal health official asserted Wednesday.
Federal observation stays ruling ‘an important win’ for residents
By
James M. Berklan
Danielle Brown
Mar 26, 2020
Providers are calling a decision that allows some patients to appeal their observation stay designations “an important win and positive step” forward for long-term care residents.
First vaccine deadline arrives for healthcare workers in half the nation
By
Danielle Brown
Jan 28, 2022
Surveyors can now evaluate long-term care providers’ compliance with a federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate covering healthcare workers in half of the United States. Many long-term care providers are ready...
CMS combing the data as it narrows PDPM adjustment targets
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 23, 2021
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has been monitoring and conducting “very comprehensive data analysis” to identify any trends or changes in provider behavior, payments and beneficiary care...
CMS missing opportunities to enforce staffing rules, watchdog warns
By
Danielle Brown
Mar 12, 2021
A watchdog agency is calling for a greater emphasis on staffing ratios during future nursing home surveys, saying the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is missing opportunities to use information...
Therapy providers agree to $8.4M settlement for upcoding allegations
By
Danielle Brown
Jul 06, 2021
Two therapy providers will pay a total of $8.4 million after being accused of providing unnecessary services at skilled nursing facilities in order to increase their Medicare reimbursements.
Providers ‘spinning again’ — COVID cases projected to peak nationwide in October
By
Kimberly Marselas
Danielle Brown
Jul 29, 2021
Total coronavirus infections are being projected to skyrocket and peak in mid-October with an estimated 390,000 cases nationwide, according to a new national model projection.
CMS ‘heartless’ for its big nursing home pay cut proposal
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 12, 2022
Providers are struggling with the federal government’s “heartless” decision to decrease pay for SNFs by $320 million in fiscal 2023.