NYT: You are as much of the problem as the Five-Star system
By
Steven Littlehale
Apr 02, 2021
A recent New York Times article about nursing homes is shameful, lazy journalism. Coupled with the need to sell advertising space, it purposefully perpetuates misunderstandings about nursing homes, caregivers...
CMS missing opportunities to enforce staffing rules, watchdog warns
By
Danielle Brown
Mar 12, 2021
A watchdog agency is calling for a greater emphasis on staffing ratios during future nursing home surveys, saying the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is missing opportunities to use information...
CMS opens visitation to nursing homes after year of isolation
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 11, 2021
“Facilities should allow responsible indoor visitation at all times” — no matter the vaccination status of resident or visitor, the agency now says. Its action follows the remarkable, apparent...
‘Balance has tipped’: It’s time to ease up on visitation regulations, nursing homes tell feds
By
Danielle Brown
Feb 25, 2021
Long-term care providers are calling on the federal government to remove regulations that base nursing home indoor visitations on COVID-19 positivity rates in the area now that vaccine coverage is widespread...
CMS: Visitation restrictions must remain; prepare for return of less-collaborative surveys
By
Danielle Brown
Feb 12, 2021
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is not ready to update nursing home visitation guidance, despite a significant drop in COVID-19 cases following widespread resident vaccinations, a top official...
When the rules change, not everyone wins: Counting IC deficiencies in Five-Star
By
Steven Littlehale
Feb 05, 2021
Do you remember how, as you were growing up, there was always another kid who would change the rules mid-game to ensure that he won? I do, and it would always make my blood boil. The Centers for Medicare...
We’re vaccinated. Now what?
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Feb 02, 2021
Across the country, long-term care facilities are vaccinating their staff and residents, with approximately 3.1 million doses delivered as of last week and rates of COVID-19 infection in nursing home residents...
Federal watchdog stresses need for retroactive COVID-19 death and case data from nursing homes
By
Danielle Brown
Jan 29, 2021
Federal health agencies are being pressured again to retroactively collect data on COVID-19 deaths and cases from nursing homes to improve the government’s response to the pandemic.
Nursing home penalties may rise in wake of AARP lawsuit alleging ‘weak’ CMS enforcement, endangered...
By
Danielle Brown
Jan 20, 2021
Nursing home operators should be on high alert for potential rule changes regarding civil monetary penalties after a lawsuit was filed against federal health agencies Sunday that targets a 2017 rule that...
CMS approves ‘unprecedented’ demo to create Medicaid block grant program
By
Danielle Brown
Jan 12, 2021
Tennessee has been approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to run a demonstration project that will make it the first state to simulate a Medicaid block grant program.