In first nursing home visit, CMS admin gets straight talk on agencies, pay and performance
By
James M. Berklan
May 12, 2022
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure has visited nursing homes numerous times, but on Wednesday she did so for the first time in her current capacity as their top...
Feds’ spotlight on owners could detract from patient focus, experts warn
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 21, 2022
An effort to improve transparency into nursing home ownership took a major leap forward when federal officials posted previously non-public data Wednesday. But providers and legal experts cautioned that...
CMS chief holds second 1-on-1 with providers as reform looms
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 04, 2022
Leaders of several nonprofit skilled nursing providers warned Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure about the potential impact of “unfunded mandates” and “counterproductive”...
Reforms could start sooner than one year, Becerra says in ‘monumental’ nursing home meeting
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 01, 2022
The federal government will meet or exceed a goal of implementing key nursing home reform measures within a year, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said Wednesday.
Pandemic crisis ‘far from over’ in senior living, Argentum tells feds
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Mar 25, 2022
While the nation turns the page on the crisis stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, Argentum is asking the Biden administration to redouble its efforts to help vulnerable older adults and their frontline caregivers.
Providers set to receive $9 billion in long-awaited Provider Relief payments, but more help is critical
By
Danielle Brown
Dec 15, 2021
The Department of Health and Human Services is finally releasing a portion of the additional $25.5 billion in COVID-19 Provider Relief Fund Phase 4 payments to healthcare providers, the agency announced...
CDC hopes $500 million will bring nursing homes, surveyors closer
By
Danielle Brown
Nov 04, 2021
Federal health leaders and long-term care stakeholders are hopeful that a new $500 million nursing home strike team program will be a collaborative partnership between providers and inspectors that reduces...
‘More than warm bodies’ needed to address LTC workforce crisis, congresswoman, industry experts advise
By
Kimberly Marselas
Sep 20, 2021
A proposed federal staffing minimum would require most nursing homes to boost RN hiring and put RNs and LPNs in greater direct care roles. It’s a move the bill’s House sponsor calls necessary to support...
Implementing strategies that promote true value of direct care workers will improve LTSS workforce challenges:...
By
Danielle Brown
Jul 02, 2021
The long-term services and supports sector must reimagine the direct care workforce, making employees feel more valued, to reduce turnover and improve recruitment, according to a new analysis.
Pressure mounting on CMS to exclude COVID vaccination data in quality reporting
By
Danielle Brown
Jun 18, 2021
More long-term care stakeholders are calling on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to ditch its proposal to expand the Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program to include staff COVID-19...