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.
Improving the delivery of quality care in behavioral health programs has been a priority for Jessica Fear for more than a quarter of a century. Fear advocates for the use of data to inform and identify...
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.
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...
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...
Advocates warn against overly restrictive prescribing rules for nursing home, hospice patients
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Apr 05, 2023
Warning that patients could otherwise be left in pain, LeadingAge has formally asked the US Drug Enforcement Agency to ensure nursing home, hospice and palliative care patients have continued access to...
‘Killer nurse’ fallout: Nursing homes likely to take the blame even if they did ‘everything right’
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Nov 06, 2023
An “angel of mercy” nurse who saw herself as putting patients out of their misery by hastening their deaths further damages the already fragile reputation of nursing homes, a long-time nursing director...