Bill would use CMS’s Five-Star system to punish consistently 1-star nursing homes
By
Joe Bush
Oct 10, 2022
A bill that would use the federal government’s Five-Star ratings system as a means to identify and punish poor quality nursing homes passed a New Jersey senate committee Thursday, drawing criticism in...
Some providers dubious as return to pre-COVID ‘normal’ gets official OK
By
Kimberly Marselas
Oct 07, 2022
Providers are still clamoring for answers about how to best comply with a series of new rules and recommendations issued by federal regulators over the last two weeks, officials acknowledged during a nursing...
CMS clarifies: New flu vaccination reporting rule applies broadly
By
Joe Bush
Oct 07, 2022
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Thursday cleared up what officials called confusion about the types of skilled nursing facilities now required to report annual healthcare personnel influenza...
Arbitration battles loom after Supreme Court inaction, tough new guidance
By
Kimberly Marselas
Oct 05, 2022
The US Supreme Court this week refused to hear arguments that nursing homes should be able to require pre-dispute arbitration agreements, clearing the way for enforcement of stiff new arbitration rules...
Projected Medicare Advantage growth to bring more provider headaches, more congressional scrutiny
By
Joe Bush
Oct 05, 2022
Several large insurance providers are expanding their Medicare Advantage plans to new states and hundreds more counties, effective in 2023, adding pressure on skilled nursing operators as enrollment booms.
Care Compare promotes selfish provider goals when it comes to admission and retention policies, researchers...
By
Joe Bush
Oct 05, 2022
The system used to rate nursing homes’ quality needs to be given more oversight in order to discourage admission practices providers employ to pump up their ratings, said authors of a research letter...
AHCA: To avoid new COVID testing citations, heed manufacturers’ use instructions
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 30, 2022
LTC facilities must adhere to manufacturers’ use instructions after a CMS change in enforcement discretion for COVID testing, the advocate says.
Federal regulators intensify spotlight on nursing homes; providers ask for more attention
By
James M. Berklan
Sep 27, 2022
Federal regulators took their campaign to make nursing home ownership more transparent to a new level Monday, and providers responded by urging the administration to do even more to reform a “broken...
With new CDC guidance, providers duck ‘up-to-date’ vaccination concerns
By
Kimberly Marselas
Sep 27, 2022
While masking and screening of nursing home workers and visitors may no longer be required in areas with lower COVID-19 transmission rates, vaccination and testing efforts will be crucial if providers...
BREAKING: CMS reveals more nursing home ownership information
By
Kimberly Marselas
James M. Berklan
Sep 26, 2022
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today made more nursing home ownership data available as part of the White House’s push to increase transparency in the sector.