CMS to lose half of staff in shutdown, full impact on providers uncertain
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Sep 28, 2023
Nursing home providers should not see any interruption in Medicaid and Medicare benefits during a short-term government shutdown, experts and sector observers said as Congress moved closer to the precipice...
State’s 52nd nursing home shutdown extends staggering loss of nursing home beds
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Apr 13, 2023
Kansas hit a dubious milestone recently with the 52nd nursing home either shutting down entirely or taking beds offline since the beginning of the pandemic.
Consumers launch initiative to grow nursing home bed capacity in their county
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Aug 30, 2023
A group that began with women frustrated at finding suitable nursing home spots for family members is now partnering with a county health department for an assessment of the community’s skilled nursing...
Union hails new staffing ratios that will cost $200 million over 2 years
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Jul 05, 2023
New staffing ratios for Pennsylvania’s nursing homes that went into effect Saturday will combat unsafe working conditions and improve residents’ quality of care, union representatives claim.
This state is reporting 93 percent occupancy — not counting the 3,000 beds offline due to staffing...
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Apr 12, 2023
Nursing homes need to be able to pay a living wage to have a chance of countering a major workforce crisis that has left 3,000 beds offline, the state’s leading sector advocacy group testified Monday.
State’s new workforce law could be national model to solve SNF staffing problems
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Mar 28, 2023
A new law in Kentucky could serve as a national model to help stem the workforce crisis in nursing homes through public-private partnerships to fund education programs for more nurses and aides.
Nursing home administrators spent 20 percent less time on-site in recent years, group claims
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Mar 13, 2023
Accusations that nursing home administrators are spending 20% less time with residents and on-site miss the mark, said two people who closely observe top facility staff.
First state analysis shows mass closures under ‘catastrophic’ federal staffing proposal
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Sep 26, 2023
A proposed federal staffing mandate would force an estimated 4,000 skilled nursing beds out of service in Michigan, according to an analysis by the state’s largest nursing home advocacy group.
After COVID failures, VA home rally enables admissions resumption
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Feb 16, 2023
A New Jersey veterans home can begin admitting new residents after getting its infection control protocols in line with federal standards, although an industry observer cautioned that some restrictions...
Pay increases for physical therapists returning to pre-pandemic levels: report
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Sep 27, 2023
Physical therapists in long-term care facilities received an average pay increase of 3.7% in 2023, which outpaces increases seen in other healthcare settings serving seniors.