‘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...
Judge denies monitor for embattled NY nursing home
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Oct 25, 2023
A New York judge will not name independent monitors for an embattled nursing home, saying the state attorney general’s request was “unwarranted at this juncture.”
Rein in ‘alarming’ Medicare Advantage, expand Medicare services, LTC advocates tell Congress
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Oct 23, 2023
Congress should do more to control Medicare Advantage spending and put traditional Medicare on more equal footing, a major nursing home advocacy group told a federal healthcare task force last week.
Embattled nursing home will close if court approves AG request for monitors: lawyers
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Oct 05, 2023
Attorneys for an embattled New York nursing home told a state Supreme Court judge that the facility will likely close if a request by the attorney general to appoint monitors is approved.
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.
CMS ‘naive’ about staffing minimum proposal details, professor claims
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Sep 20, 2023
The proposed federal staffing rule is “shockingly low” and will not measurably improve working and care conditions in nursing homes, consumer advocates claimed during a webinar that was conducted without...
With every SNF already under scrutiny, federal task force aims to cut healthcare spending, eliminate...
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Aug 30, 2023
A new task force from the US House Budget Committee will look at how to reduce healthcare spending, including ways to modernize healthcare and support access to care.
CMS 5-claim audits so far a ‘debacle’
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Aug 22, 2023
A new federal review process designed to lower the rate of improper government payments is sending provider staffs scurrying to justify their coding.
Receiver looks to close nursing home costing $1M a month, halving state’s vent facilities
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Aug 08, 2023
Connecticut may soon be left with a single nursing home ventilator unit if a Superior Court judge approves a request from the state to close a facility that has been in receivership since 2019.
$300M for nursing homes won’t address long-term workforce problems
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Aug 07, 2023
The first of two, one-time state payments are on their way to Minnesota’s nursing homes, but facilities will not be able to use the funds for items that appear on cost reports, such as staff wages and...