Consumer groups urge CMS to enforce nurse aide training enforcement initiatives
By
Josh Henreckson
Dec 19, 2023
For all its increased regulatory pressure on nursing homes in recent years, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services hasn’t fully embraced the Biden administration’s full agenda for long-term care....
Researchers’ app finally lets nursing homes and hospitals talk the same info-sharing language
By
Kimberly Marselas
Dec 18, 2023
In an attempt to reduce rehospitalizations, researchers have developed a new app that allows hospitals to speak the same language as the nursing homes receiving their newly discharged patients.
The red bird: A story of connection and meaning
By
Martie Moore
Dec 15, 2023
My encounters with the red bird had been limited until a week after my mother died. I was sitting on the couch, consumed with grief when it first arrived. The red bird flew to the transom and peered...
Class action suit targets Medicare Advantage insurer’s use of AI to end rehab stays
By
Josh Henreckson
Dec 14, 2023
Two skilled nursing patients filed a class action suit against Humana Tuesday — alleging their Medicare Advantage benefits were cut prematurely short because of Humana’s wrongful reliance on artificial...
Study: Threats to healthcare officials, workers resulted in exodus from field
By
Kristen Fischer
Dec 13, 2023
A new report highlights the reasons why frontline healthcare workers and health officials left the field during the COVID-19 pandemic. Spoiler alert: Harassment from others — and even hate mail — helped...
Plenty of space and still a ‘tight squeeze’ for new construction in skilled nursing
By
Kimberly Marselas
Dec 13, 2023
Ciena Healthcare, owner and operator of 83 nursing homes in five states, is breaking into the healthcare “resort” category with the opening of a 95,000 square foot, $32 million building in the Detroit...
Exploitation concerns persist as push for immigrant workers grows
By
Josh Henreckson
Dec 13, 2023
Immigrant nurses are already a key demographic in long-term care, and are likely to become more vital in the future. But allegations of coercive labor practices by some providers and staffing agencies...
New registered dietitian requirement may send more nursing homes to consultants
By
Josh Henreckson
Dec 12, 2023
A new educational standard from the Commission on Dietetic Registration is likely to push nursing homes to use consultants and remote work more to meet required registered dietitian needs.
Forced to work in a vacuum, MedPAC recommends another Medicare cut
By
Kimberly Marselas
Dec 11, 2023
A Congressional advisory group appears ready to recommend a 3% Medicare pay cut for nursing homes in 2025.
Are nursing homes headed for an 80% direct-spend rule?
By
Kimberly Marselas
Dec 11, 2023
A national union on Friday skewed comments made by Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to imply federal regulators had proposed an 80% direct care spending requirement for the nursing home...