Medicare Advantage set for regulatory showdown as penetration passes 50 percent
By
Kimberly Marselas
May 16, 2023
After years of explosive growth, Medicare Advantage crossed a major tipping point in January: More than 50% of all Medicare beneficiaries are now covered by an MA plan.
CNA candidates ‘giving up’ as exam openings fail to keep pace with worker demand
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jun 27, 2022
Thousands of certified nurse aide candidates are struggling to find exam placements across the US, with many of them under a fast-approaching deadline to become certified before a four-month, temporary...
Stuck in the middle, LTC pharmacies could be dangerously squeezed by drug price negotiations
By
Kimberly Marselas
Sep 01, 2023
Any lower drug prices that result from White House efforts to negotiate on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries may lead to short-term gains for nursing homes, but there also could be a steep price to pay...
Federal COVID cases with major LTC implications headed for November action
By
Kimberly Marselas
Oct 28, 2022
Two cases that could play a pivotal role in determining how well skilled nursing providers are protected by a federal COVID shield law are headed for important federal court dates.
‘Unfair’ posting of disputed citations will tarnish operators: experts
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jan 19, 2023
The decision to post disputed nursing home citations on a government website for consumers riled providers and legal experts Wednesday.
Surprise Biden order ‘punishing’ for nursing home providers
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 19, 2023
An executive order signed by President Joe Biden Tuesday afternoon will trigger broad, cabinet-level activities intended to improve nursing home and other caregiving jobs and hold providers accountable...
With DONs in hot demand, providers act to broaden pipelines
By
Kimberly Marselas
Nov 28, 2022
Faced with unprecedented competition for registered nurses, skilled nursing providers are pulling out all the stops to recruit, up-train and retain what is arguably the most important clinical worker in...
Unfunded staffing mandate’s financial requirements a ‘fantasy,’ observers say
By
Kimberly Marselas
Sep 05, 2023
Though a costly national nursing home staffing mandate proposed Friday offers no new financial support for operators, it could trigger more reporting requirements as the federal government tries to spur...
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.
In ‘scavenger hunt’ economy, providers will need to seize right opportunities
By
Kimberly Marselas
Sep 16, 2022
WASHINGTON, DC — Whether they think the US is in a recession or not, providers must prepare for “sticky inflation,” rising interest rates and layoffs that may hurt the overall economy without shaking...