Providers: Staffing rule a CMS ‘fairy tale’ that will ‘exacerbate’ nursing home access issue
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 23, 2024
Despite minor concessions in a staffing mandate issued Monday, many nursing home providers were shell-shocked by what they saw as federal regulators’ intractable stance on minimums at a time when nearly...
[Updated] Providers bracing for CMS release of federal nursing home staffing mandate at ‘any time’
By
James M. Berklan
Kimberly Marselas
Aug 31, 2023
Nursing home leaders Wednesday were expecting details of a first-ever federal nursing home staffing mandate to be released at virtually any time.
First NHSN webinar on COVID-19 vaccination reporting changes is Monday
By
James M. Berklan
Sep 22, 2023
The national reporting system for nursing homes to submit COVID-19 vaccination data has set webinar dates to review important changes to the system.
Why CMS is shifting its infection control focus to sepsis
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 11, 2024
BALTIMORE — Quality experts at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will be taking a closer look at sepsis rates in nursing homes while continuing broader efforts to improve infection control,...
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...
Study’s amazing discovery: COVID-19 was not very good for long-term care
By
John O'Connor
Aug 05, 2023
Mama used to say the only good thing about being sick is that you’ll feel better later — if you live.
Congress should pass this provider-endorsed Medicare bill, and then go further
By
James M. Berklan
Aug 11, 2023
Despite today’s hyper-partisan divisions, there’s one nursing home-focused measure that should be a slam dunk among members of both major political parties.
New patient safety measures imminent as risk of harm evolves: CMS
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 10, 2024
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services remains acutely focused on patient harm and will introduce new measures addressing patient safety later this year, agency leaders said at an event in Baltimore...
A Medicare Advantage fix: What took so long?
By
James M. Berklan
Apr 12, 2024
Providers hoping that policy makers might some day show some backbone when dealing with Medicare Advantage plans can take heart. Well, at least a little.
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.