Major data gaps persist as feds tackle nursing home ownership transparency: study
By
Josh Henreckson
Mar 05, 2024
Nursing home ownership data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid services currently captures only a small fraction of private equity and real estate investment trust investment in long-term care, according...
Workforce improvement No. 1 target in final OIG report on nursing home pandemic effects
By
Josh Henreckson
Mar 01, 2024
Steep challenges faced by nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic continue to hinder their ability to provide quality care and adequate staffing, according to new report findings from the US Department...
Expect another Five-Star freeze amid nursing home survey delays, experts warn
By
Kimberly Marselas
Feb 20, 2024
Staffing measures used to calculate nursing homes’ federal ratings will freeze in April, further complicating a system based on often outdated and constantly changing metrics, experts warned last week.
PEPPER’s pause doesn’t wipe out prospects for nursing home self-monitoring
By
Kimberly Marselas
Feb 06, 2024
Federal regulators have suspended a key tool used by some nursing homes for internal auditing, but experts cautioned providers not to let the stoppage hinder their compliance efforts.
CMS: Expect final nursing home staffing rule this year
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jan 23, 2024
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services plans to finalize its minimum staffing rule for nursing homes during 2024, an official confirmed Tuesday during a national stakeholder call.
OIG to audit CMS oversight of state-contracted nursing home surveyors
By
Josh Henreckson
Jan 23, 2024
A top federal watchdog will audit the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ nursing home survey practices in 2024, according to a new report.
With ‘hundreds’ of facilities audited over schizophrenia, CMS pursues harsher antipsychotics stance
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jan 19, 2024
With half of nursing homes audited in a new process admitting to misdiagnosing schizophrenia patients, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is extending its drive to reduce the use of certain drugs...
CMS finalizes long-awaited prior authorization rule for Medicare Advantage
By
Josh Henreckson
Jan 18, 2024
A new rule on Medicare Advantage prior authorization finalized by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Wednesday suggests good news for providers and Medicare recipients.
CMS pledges to use ‘full array’ of tools to enforce 2024 Medicare Advantage rules
By
Josh Henreckson
Jan 12, 2024
Despite early fears, long-term care leaders have some reason to be optimistic that changes to Medicare Advantage rules for 2024 will be enforced.
HHS chief returns focus of low COVID-19 vax rates to nursing homes
By
James M. Berklan
Jan 04, 2024
The nation’s top health official met with US nursing home leaders for the second time in two weeks Wednesday to discuss what he called concerningly low COVID-19 vaccination rates among long-term care...