‘Death spiral’ for SNFs as Medicare Advantage pay decreases
By
Kimberly Marselas
Sep 06, 2022
Pressure to accept low-ball contracts with Medicare Advantage plans that continue to reduce reimbursement is driving some skilled nursing providers into “a death spiral,” a major aging services association...
Next nursing home reform target: Emergency preparedness?
By
Kimberly Marselas
Sep 02, 2022
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services may soon intensify its reform agenda focus on emergency planning, one of many areas targeted in President Biden’s 21-point nursing home plan unveiled earlier...
States need to step up with nurse aide waiver clearer, providers say
By
Kimberly Marselas
Aug 31, 2022
The formal extension of a waiver program that relaxes certification requirements for some nurse aides was widely embraced by providers a day after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced...
Clinical briefs for Wednesday, Aug. 31
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 31, 2022
CMS granting more nurse aide training flexibility … FDA adds potential drug interactions to Paxlovid guidance … SARS-CoV-2 antigens linked to patient outcomes … ACC, AHA issue new chest pain data...
Hello, CMS? This is desperation calling
By
Kimberly Marselas
Aug 30, 2022
There was a stark, though not at all unexpected, dichotomy between participants in Monday’s listening session to gather input on coming nursing home staff minimums. On the one hand, you had consumer...
Warning on staffing minimum: Studying costs won’t matter if pay doesn’t add up
By
Kimberly Marselas
Aug 30, 2022
Cost analysis will be “an important part” of a final report on federal minimum staffing standards, the head of a national study assured nursing home stakeholders Monday.
CMS outlines 4-pronged minimum staffing study
By
Kimberly Marselas
Aug 23, 2022
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Monday revealed more details about how it will use nursing home site visits, data and other tools to formulate a minimum staffing standard, one that is meant...
CMS urges states to link accountability, Medicaid funding
By
Kimberly Marselas
Aug 23, 2022
While providers largely agreed with Monday’s new federal call for states to tie increased Medicaid funding to accountability, they remained concerned about what that could mean for nursing homes in states...
Clinical briefs for Tuesday, Aug. 23
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 23, 2022
CMS bulletin presses states to drive better resident outcomes using their Medicaid authority … HHS expands HCBS services … Paxlovid linked to 45% lower risk of poor outcomes in the vaccinated … Fauci,...
CMS prompts nursing homes to prepare for end of PHE waivers, flexibilities
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 22, 2022
The agency has asked providers to quickly reestablish previous health and safety standards and billing practices, and is directing providers to new resources.