Repealed law protecting nursing homes from COVID claims can’t be applied retroactively: court
By
Kimberly Marselas
Dec 04, 2023
A state appeals court has rejected arguments that nursing homes sued for negligence in COVID-related cases early in the pandemic could be forced to face trial after a later revocation of a legal shield.
Medicare Advantage plans intent on skirting new rules, providers fear
By
Kimberly Marselas
Dec 01, 2023
Aging services providers are increasingly concerned that powerful Medicare Advantage plans will not fall into line under new federal rules, which were once seen as the possible beginning of a tide change...
Case over ‘weaponized’ arbitration agreement draws fresh Labor Dep’t scrutiny
By
Kimberly Marselas
Dec 01, 2023
Employment contracts that require nursing home workers to pay their employers’ attorneys fees if they lose an arbitration dispute are “unduly coercive” and would “chill” workers’ willingness...
Senator promises legislation to quash nursing home staffing mandate
By
Kimberly Marselas
Nov 29, 2023
Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) has pledged to introduce a highly anticipated bill to block the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services from implementing its proposed nursing home staffing mandate, although the...
Major COVID outbreak, takeover demonstrate nursing home threat amid vaccination slide
By
Kimberly Marselas
Nov 28, 2023
Admissions have been halted at a skilled nursing facility that was part of one of the nation’s worst COVID-19 outbreaks as state officials raise major concerns about a new round of infection and deaths...
Turning around nonprofits: Ben Kurland’s ‘nimble’ approach leads to quick growth at for-profit...
By
Kimberly Marselas
Nov 27, 2023
Allaire Health Services has steadily grown to 17 facilities over its seven years, mostly via the acquisition of nonprofit or publicly owned nursing homes.
Nursing homes’ financial reporting just ‘smoke and mirrors,’ consumer advocate alleges
By
Kimberly Marselas
Nov 22, 2023
Federal and state regulators should require consolidated, audited financial reporting of every nursing home group in the country to get beyond the “smoke and mirrors” and better understand exactly...
LTCH closures send more patients to nursing homes, but are they ready?
By
Kimberly Marselas
Nov 22, 2023
Shifting payment policies have decreased Medicare spending on patients requiring mechanical ventilation, but they also have led to the closure of many long-term care hospitals and have driven more patients...
Lack of SNF beds leads to hospital lawsuit against patients refusing discharge
By
Kimberly Marselas
Nov 21, 2023
A Catholic hospital system is suing patients who refused to leave its hospitals while awaiting post-acute placements, saying their refusal to be discharged amounted to trespassing.
State lawmakers embrace small-house nursing homes, tackle prior authorization in ‘transformative’...
By
Kimberly Marselas
Nov 21, 2023
A House bill, which passed 158-0 last week, prods the development of more “small house” nursing homes, promises better infection control responses and launches a pre-authorization pilot designed to...