‘Incomplete’ oversight lets Medicaid managed care denials go largely unchecked: MACPAC
By
Kimberly Marselas
Sep 22, 2023
While much of the outrage around managed care denials has been directed toward Medicare Advantage plans, a federal advisory panel Thursday outlined policies that could force states to better track denials...
CMS ‘naive’ about staffing minimum proposal details, professor claims
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Sep 20, 2023
The proposed federal staffing rule is “shockingly low” and will not measurably improve working and care conditions in nursing homes, consumer advocates claimed during a webinar that was conducted without...
CMS official to providers: Help us capture data to drive Medicare Advantage reforms
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 07, 2024
The increased use of health data and providers’ own voices should be considered among the best tools available for achieving change in a system that increasingly relies on Medicaid Advantage and other...
New state staffing ratios unearth ‘grave’ concerns about vacant jobs, empty beds
By
Kimberly Marselas
Oct 24, 2023
Despite increased state funding that has allowed nursing homes to provide raises for existing staff and increase starting salaries, the number of Pennsylvania providers limiting census due to staffing...
With bankruptcies increasing, lawmakers look to regulate CCRC refund process
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jul 21, 2023
The bankruptcy filing of Illinois’ largest nonprofit life plan community has brought renewed attention to resident refunds, an issue already being targeted for reform by state lawmakers.
Experts fear ‘bigger, stronger stick’ in new Medicare pay rule
By
James M. Berklan
Apr 01, 2024
Nursing home stakeholders are reacting with contempt and concern to key provisions of the newly proposed fiscal 2025 Medicare Part A pay rule.
$300M for nursing homes won’t address long-term workforce problems
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Aug 07, 2023
The first of two, one-time state payments are on their way to Minnesota’s nursing homes, but facilities will not be able to use the funds for items that appear on cost reports, such as staff wages and...
‘Raining for 4 years’: Historic nonprofit nursing home maintains legacy amid deluge of challenges
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 26, 2024
The Chapin Home has survived two pandemics, two world wars, the Great Depression and other economic calamities to serve the poor and ailing of New York City across three centuries.
Taking a hard line
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 12, 2024
Healthcare providers were forced to pay nearly $2 billion to resolve federal False Claims Act allegations last year, a historic amount that serves as one of several fresh indicators that federal investigations...
‘Killer nurse’ fallout: Nursing homes likely to take the blame even if they did ‘everything right’
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Nov 06, 2023
An “angel of mercy” nurse who saw herself as putting patients out of their misery by hastening their deaths further damages the already fragile reputation of nursing homes, a long-time nursing director...