Social isolation linked to higher likelihood of nursing home admission: study
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Jul 25, 2023
Isolation among seniors can increase the chances of admission to nursing homes, and programs to increase their socialization could reduce healthcare spending, new research shows.
Nursing facility cuts fines by $200K after cleaning up discharge, emergency service practices
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Apr 18, 2023
A central California nursing home has made enough improvements to staffing and operations to drop the fines levied by law enforcement agencies by $200,000 and wrap up a lawsuit brought by state regulators.
Facility caregivers deserve more help, say researchers studying dementia patients’ ER use
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Jul 26, 2023
Caregivers who help Alzheimer’s and other dementia patients should receive more support to keep these individuals out of hospital emergency rooms.
On federal staffing minimum, providers need protections: AHCA’s Phil Fogg
By
Jessica R. Towhey
May 24, 2023
Nursing home providers could support a federal minimum staffing rule that is funded and exempts them from penalties if they make “best faith efforts” to hire, according to one of the nation’s top...
Lawmakers reignite attacks against ‘scam’ Medicare Advantage plans
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Jul 27, 2023
Federal lawmakers and activists are turning up the heat again on Medicare Advantage, a month after 300 members of Congress told the federal agency that oversees the system to make it easier to manage.
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.
In the quest for Medicare patients, Yelp stars outshine Care Compare
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Sep 22, 2023
More consumers are turning to social media review platforms to help choose a nursing home for family members, but the reviews can be skewed by anecdotal and personal evidence, a new study shows.
US health chief: COVID vaccinations up at nursing homes but egregious lapses exist
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Jan 19, 2023
The top US health official on Wednesday complimented nursing homes’ efforts to boost COVID-19 vaccination rates over the last two months, but he also made it clear that conditions must continue to improve.
Concerns continue after CMS delays staffing rule unveiling
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 07, 2023
Skilled nursing providers who had readied themselves for the unveiling of a national staffing mandate as part of the 2024 pay rule were left reading the tea leaves this week after federal regulators delayed...
Aging committee chair delivers another broadside about nursing home surveys
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Jul 28, 2023
A powerful US senator is bringing added firepower in his quest to fix what he sees as major issues with state surveys of nursing homes. It’s an effort that had one leading advocate channeling Alanis...