‘Recession proof’ nursing homes may not see usual labor gains due to COVID
By
Kimberly Marselas
Aug 29, 2022
While nursing homes have traditionally been better able to compete for and keep workers in an economic downturn, a possible recession coming on the heels of COVID-19 will test conventional wisdom.
‘Critical access’ not at critical mass, but skilled nursing providers push on
By
Kimberly Marselas
Feb 02, 2023
Support for the concept of critical access nursing homes is growing among providers, but it has yet to gain much traction among industry leaders or the politicians who would need to create such a safety...
BREAKING: CMS finalizes 2.7% pay raise, two year phase-in for PDPM cuts
By
Danielle Brown
Jul 29, 2022
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Friday afternoon announced a finalized cut to nursing home Medicare pay rates for fiscal 2023.
States need to step up with nurse aide waiver clearer, providers say
By
Kimberly Marselas
Aug 31, 2022
The formal extension of a waiver program that relaxes certification requirements for some nurse aides was widely embraced by providers a day after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced...
CMS to begin audits for schizophrenia coding, says citations will affect quality ratings
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 19, 2023
The agency will start auditing nursing homes this month to determine whether residents’ schizophrenia diagnoses are accurate and appropriately coded. A pattern of inaccurate coding may result in a quality...
After dry spells, providers get vital Medicaid increases. Now the big fear: Will they be ‘1-and-done’?
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Kimberly Marselas
Jun 12, 2023
As Medicaid negotiations successfully continue in various states, worries are already arising about how to sustain increases
BREAKING: CMS increases hours to 3.48 in final staffing rule
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 22, 2024
Nursing homes will be required to deliver 3.48 hours daily of direct patient care under a final staffing mandate issued this morning.
The 2022 McKnight’s Mood of the Market survey: Leaders at their ‘breaking points’
By
Kimberly Marselas
Sep 11, 2022
Nearly 60% of long-term care nurse leaders have seriously considered quitting their jobs in the last three months, a nearly 10-point jump versus 2021, according to the fourth annual McKnight’s Mood of...
‘Strong evidence’ more immigrant caregivers improve nursing home quality: researchers
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Feb 22, 2023
Better federal policies to increase the number of immigrants working in nursing homes could help providers get over the hump in meeting expected new staffing requirements, new research shows.
Wait-and-see staffing rule exemptions meant to ‘safeguard’ residents: CMS
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 25, 2024
Skilled nursing providers will not have to go through a stand-alone application process to be exempted from provisions of a new federal staffing mandate, an official with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid...