A new federal review process designed to lower the rate of improper government payments is sending provider staffs scurrying to justify their coding.
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.
Influential senator, colleagues pressure CMS on nursing home ownership info
By
Jessica R. Towhey
May 23, 2023
A small group of Democrats have joined with US Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to turn up the bipartisan heat on federal regulators as they weigh increasing transparency into nursing homes’ ownership structures.
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.
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...
State creates nursing home ownership transparency rules ahead of federal action
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Jul 18, 2023
Connecticut has new transparency rules for nursing home owners and will require a “plain language” explanation of how Medicaid rates are set.
Provider orgs caution finalized physician rule would be ‘existential threat’ to patient care
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Sep 11, 2023
A plan to cut doctors’ pay and bring more clinical oversight into nursing homes will decrease patient care and therapy, groups are warning.
Feds should require full-time infection control specialists at nursing homes, association says
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Jun 20, 2023
The federal government should require a full-time infection preventionist in every nursing home, say leaders of a large ICP association.
Pay boost might not absorb ‘sudden changes or shocks’ but providers mostly content with 3.7% hike
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Jun 06, 2023
The official comment period for a proposed 3.7% nursing home pay hike closed Monday with just 45 comments, a historically paltry number indicating that, unlike previous pay rules, the sector is mostly...
‘Creativity just isn’t enough’ to cover costs of care without more pay, alarmed nursing home leaders...
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Feb 21, 2023
Creative ideas to entice more workers to Iowa’s nursing homes will not solve the labor shortfall and wage issues unless lawmakers increase funding to match the cost of care, providers and advocates said.