Empty beds, untenable staffing needs push the nation’s rural nursing homes closer to the brink
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jan 08, 2024
Like many of its skilled nursing neighbors in the Cornhusker State, Good Samaritan Society-Bloomfield is teetering between fulfilling its vital community role with special small-town flourishes and succumbing...
Outlook 2024: On staffing, operators say they’ll ‘find a way’ but agency boom, admission restrictions...
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jan 05, 2024
More than half — 55% — of skilled nursing leaders say they would need to hire more agency staff if a proposed federal staffing mandate is enacted. That’s just one finding from the McKnight’s 2024...
State to reward providers for reducing agency nurse use
By
Kimberly Marselas
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Jan 04, 2024
Skilled nursing providers have been working hard to reduce agency dependency in the wake of the pandemic and rising labor costs.
Scrooged again: MA plans can’t escape criticism of clandestine coverage rules
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jan 02, 2024
If you were looking for someone deserving to be cast as Ebeneezer Scrooge this holiday season, Medicare Advantage insurers may have just locked up the audition (for this year and maybe future years too).
Researchers’ app finally lets nursing homes and hospitals talk the same info-sharing language
By
Kimberly Marselas
Dec 18, 2023
In an attempt to reduce rehospitalizations, researchers have developed a new app that allows hospitals to speak the same language as the nursing homes receiving their newly discharged patients.
Plenty of space and still a ‘tight squeeze’ for new construction in skilled nursing
By
Kimberly Marselas
Dec 13, 2023
Ciena Healthcare, owner and operator of 83 nursing homes in five states, is breaking into the healthcare “resort” category with the opening of a 95,000 square foot, $32 million building in the Detroit...
Forced to work in a vacuum, MedPAC recommends another Medicare cut
By
Kimberly Marselas
Dec 11, 2023
A Congressional advisory group appears ready to recommend a 3% Medicare pay cut for nursing homes in 2025.
Are nursing homes headed for an 80% direct-spend rule?
By
Kimberly Marselas
Dec 11, 2023
A national union on Friday skewed comments made by Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to imply federal regulators had proposed an 80% direct care spending requirement for the nursing home...
Drama within deluge of CMS staffing mandate comments
By
Kimberly Marselas
Dec 07, 2023
After 60 days of public and often-heated debate, the formal comment period for one of the most controversial federal healthcare regulations ever proposed came to a close Nov. 6.
The introduction of a Senate bill intended to block the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services from implementing its proposed nursing home staffing mandate was met roundly with applause from providers...