State’s nursing home staffing bonuses will reward even low performers
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Feb 27, 2023
In a creative new reward plan being heralded nationwide by many providers, California will pay bonuses to all nursing homes that hire additional staff, reduce turnover, or improve the quality of care —...
Nursing home lawsuit: Management company diverted $1.8 million in COVID relief funds
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Feb 24, 2023
Nursing homes can be attractive targets for prosecutors looking for COVID fraud, but aggressive enforcement policies may make it difficult for “good actors” to conduct business, legal observers cautioned...
Swearing good, drinking bad
By
Gary Tetz
Feb 23, 2023
Last time out here, I gave long-term care professionals official permission to swear, making the case, with strong scientific support, that an occasional obscenity is actually healthy. I assume for most...
Setting the record straight on worker misclassification
By
Regan Parker
Feb 23, 2023
Over the last few months, several misinformed news stories have attacked companies that provide access to independent workers, often referred to as “1099” because of the form filed with the IRS. We’ve...
Clinical briefs for Wednesday, Feb. 22
By
Rachael Zimlich
Feb 22, 2023
Long COVID could lead to brain chemistry changes … COVID vaccination linked to decrease in heart attacks and strokes in people previously infected with the virus … FDA approves first medication designed...
Nursing homes reimagine frontline roles, seek smoother regulatory pathways
By
Kimberly Marselas
Feb 22, 2023
In the wake of a historic shortage of nurses and assistants, America’s nursing homes have been forced to get creative when it comes to hiring, scheduling and retaining workers.
‘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.
Providers support state’s flexible, incentive-laden staffing mandate but CMS may soon make it moot
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Feb 21, 2023
Nursing home advocates and observers say Virginia’s staffing mandate adequately melds direct care hours with financial incentives for facilities and punitive flexibility by state regulators.
OIG signals new focus on nursing homes
By
Neville M. Bilimoria
Feb 17, 2023
The federal Office of Inspector General recently published its “OIG’s Top Unimplemented Recommendations: Solutions To Reduce Fraud, Waste, and Abuse in HHS Programs.” In the 94-page document,...
Immigration reemerges as workforce solution in scattershot Senate hearing
By
Kimberly Marselas
Feb 17, 2023
An overwhelmed healthcare workforce, the implications of ongoing shortages and fears about a stressed pipeline took center stage during a Senate hearing Thursday.