Economic indicators rise, but staffing conditions still keeping SNFs down
By
Kimberly Marselas
James M. Berklan
Apr 17, 2023
A rash of seemingly positive economic indicators issued in recent days might lead nursing home operators and owners to think the incredible operating and financial pressures of the past 18 months are finally...
MedPAC ‘ruling out’ safety net for SNFs with heavy, low-income Medicare caseloads
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 14, 2023
Nursing homes that treat a large share of low-income Medicare patients have such high margins that they don’t need a bonus payment to help maintain access, a panel that advises Congress on Medicare policy...
Florida’s ‘free kill law’ fails the optics test
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 11, 2023
A state tort reform effort that already stood to make nursing homes look pretty callous toward residents’ families got even uglier this week.
State News: Nation’s first long-term care payroll tax set to resume
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 10, 2023
After state officials had delayed implementation of the nation’s first long-term care payroll tax, lawmakers this winter failed to defeat it permanently.
Industry’s best are on top and on stage
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 10, 2023
More than 200 aging services professionals, business partners and supporters celebrated a who’s-who of industry veterans in grand style during the inaugural McKnight’s Pinnacle Awards ceremony in February.
Feds broaden nursing home quality campaign with new discharge, satisfaction and vaccination measures
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 10, 2023
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services made one thing clear when it issued its newly proposed nursing home pay rule last week: Promoting nursing home quality improvement is driving policy formation.
Concerns continue after CMS delays staffing rule unveiling
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 07, 2023
Skilled nursing providers who had readied themselves for the unveiling of a national staffing mandate as part of the 2024 pay rule were left reading the tea leaves this week after federal regulators delayed...
CMS: Lapses in infection control, vaccine compliance to garner ‘aggressive’ enforcement
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 04, 2023
Federal regulators have quietly put in place new, stricter enforcement measures for nursing homes that struggle to meet infection control and vaccine immunization requirements for residents and staff.
Feeling the pain of an empty parking lot
By
Kimberly Marselas
Mar 29, 2023
For months, nursing homes have complained about their inability to recruit entry level staff while competing with other types of employers able to offer better wages and more attractive benefits like telecommuting.
CMS workforce policies, productivity in Congressional spotlight
By
Kimberly Marselas
Mar 24, 2023
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) gave Health and Human and Services Secretary Xavier Becerra a drubbing this week over “generous telework policies” that he said were likely affecting the department’s productivity.