Push for permanent telehealth funding kicks into high gear in Congress
By
Josh Henreckson
Mar 15, 2024
With ongoing federal Medicare reimbursements for telehealth set to expire at the end of the year, a bipartisan push is underway in the US House of Representatives to make those payments permanent.
Case over ‘weaponized’ arbitration agreement draws fresh Labor Dep’t scrutiny
By
Kimberly Marselas
Dec 01, 2023
Employment contracts that require nursing home workers to pay their employers’ attorneys fees if they lose an arbitration dispute are “unduly coercive” and would “chill” workers’ willingness...
After 15 years of trims, provider groups say middling Medicaid increase won’t cut it
By
Josh Henreckson
Nov 22, 2023
After 15 years of Medicaid reimbursement cuts, a group of providers says a cost-of-living increase is not enough to address compounding funding issues that threaten the quality of healthcare.
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...
Senator promises legislation to quash nursing home staffing mandate
By
Kimberly Marselas
Nov 29, 2023
Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) has pledged to introduce a highly anticipated bill to block the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services from implementing its proposed nursing home staffing mandate, although the...
Will $900M nursing home racketeering lawsuit get new life? The court is still out
By
Kimberly Marselas
Oct 13, 2023
A group of residents who allege a nursing home management company’s omission of key details from licensing applications rose to racketeering-level behavior is seeking new life for what could be a nearly...
Pirola COVID-19 variant may not be as contagious as previous variants, researchers say
By
Kristen Fischer
Sep 06, 2023
A new report finds that a new COVID-19 variant — BA.2.86, or Pirola — may not be as contagious than originally thought. That’s good news for long-term care communities, who have been told to brace...
AARP: 4 years later, COVID-19 still rages in nursing homes
By
Kristen Fischer
Mar 18, 2024
Even as nursing home cases and deaths related to COVID-19 are declining, a recent analysis finds the virus is still wreaking havoc in long-term care settings.
In wake of mishandled nursing home closing, lawmakers look to tighten oversight
By
Josh Henreckson
Feb 27, 2024
Missouri lawmakers are calling for tightened regulations for long-term care and other eldercare facilities following a controversial nursing home shutdown. A bill proposed last week by Missouri House Minority...
New York lawmakers offer historic Medicaid lifeline for nursing homes after years of neglect
By
Josh Henreckson
Mar 19, 2024
New York long-term care providers are one big step closer to making up Medicaid funding shortfalls 16 years in the making.