Over 50 lawmakers from both chambers of Congress are urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to increase scrutiny and regulation of artificial intelligence tools used by Medicare Advantage plans. In a letter addressed to CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, the legislators expressed deep concerns over the use of AI algorithms by MA plans […]
Category: Legislation
Low pay and inadequate benefits are the drivers of high turnover and burnout among direct care workers in long-term care, including nursing homes, resulting in a staggering shortfall in care hours required versus those actually delivered, according to a new report. The report released Tuesday and produced by the Maine Center for Economic Policy (MECEP), in […]
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon) on Thursday announced that a draft bill is underway that, if enacted, would bring unprecedented reforms for hospice payment and oversight. The draft bill comes as more skilled nursing operators expand their hospice offerings, including by launching their own hospice businesses or more closely partnering with existing hospice providers. Blumenauer announced […]
The joint resolutions introduced under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to overturn the minimum staffing rule have enough votes in both the Senate and the House, and could pass. This is according to at least two news outlets, including The Hill and Axios. “The Senate measure, led by Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.), James Lankford (R-Okla.) […]
Nursing home leaders convened in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday to present a unified stance against the federal staffing mandate, which they argue could exacerbate existing challenges in long-term care facilities. The gathering follows a Congressional Briefing by American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) at the week’s start, and saw key figures from […]
As part of already proposed legislation, U.S. Democratic Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania is pushing for an injection of billions of dollars to increase the direct care workforce and improve pay. Casey’s Long-Term Care Workforce Support Act could be viewed as a funding mechanism for the Biden administration’s federal nursing home staffing mandate, which would […]
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has come under scrutiny for its oversight of nursing facilities, particularly regarding incidents of resident elopement – a problem that continues to impact facilities across the nation. Judging by Maine’s example, elopement is a tricky problem to tackle, and existence of tough regulation alone isn’t addressing […]
LeadingAge joins a slew of other nursing home industry voices in urging a multi-faceted strategy following the finalization of the federal minimum staffing rule a month ago. The advocacy group is pursuing legislative, legal and regulatory avenues to stop the mandate and build the workforce. Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO of LeadingAge, said, “We […]
An amendment for a bill that aims to alleviate staff shortages at nursing homes passed Wednesday, allowing nurse aides to continue their training at facilities facing violations and fines. As the bill titled, “Ensuring Seniors’ Access to Quality Care Act,” now moves on to the next stage of review, the amendment signals a shift in […]
If there’s no additional funding for the minimum staffing rule, well over 5% of existing facilities will close, depending on how successfully operators can pivot to meet the standard. The rates of closure may even reach 10% to 15%, depending on the market, cautioned sector leaders attending the LTC100 conference this week. Steve Nee, CEO […]
Nursing home operators are exploring various avenues to challenge or block the mandate, including legal action, congressional review, and leveraging the appropriations process. “We will vigorously defend our nursing home members by any means necessary,” Rachel Reeves, spokesperson for the American Health Care Association (AHCA) said in a statement to Bloomberg Law. “We are exploring […]
Editor’s note: Please click here for more complete coverage of this story. The nursing home minimum staffing rule has been finalized, impacting all nursing homes that receive federal funding through Medicare and Medicaid, according to an announcement from the White House. The rule mandates a minimum of 3.48 hours per resident per day of total […]
Federal lawmakers have introduced the Long-Term Care Workforce Support Act, in conjunction with a hearing that took place Tuesday, hosted by the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging. The bill, if passed, would increase the number of direct care professionals, including in rural communities. Some associations representing the nursing home industry said the legislation managed […]
The nursing home industry, along with other settings in long-term care, is expected to be a central campaign focus for presidential candidates in future elections. One reason is growth of the older population just as the Medicare trust fund is projected to show a deficit starting around 2026 when the oldest of baby boomers will […]
Congressional leaders released on Thursday bipartisan fiscal appropriations bills for 2024 totaling $1.2 trillion in funding, including for health care. Ahead of it, two House panels grilled the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra on Wednesday during hearings on White House’s fiscal 2025 budget proposal for the department. Becerra addressed lawmaker’s […]
As so many in the nursing home space focus on Medicaid reimbursement, others are taking a closer look at improving rate setting methodology and how it can be optimized for facilities. Medicaid rates are in part influenced by fair rental value, which is determined after experienced housing experts perform an in-depth market valuation on the […]
As financial transparency continues to be one of the top nursing home reform initiatives of state and federal officials, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has taken this push one step further with the potential use of forensic audits. Gov. Lamont introduced a bill to authorize the use of forensic audits when the state Department of Social […]
Some Republican senators blasted the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) minimum staffing proposal for nursing homes in a recent finance committee meeting, noting the paltry $75 million to bolster staffing isn’t enough to support upcoming regulations. Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) pointed out that four of five facilities won’t be able to comply with […]
As a “chunk” of the nursing home sector teeters on the brink, the political will of the White House and the unions to implement the federal staffing mandate appears to be at odds with its practicality, affording the industry a chance to challenge it both legislatively and legally. This view was expressed by Ensign CEO […]
State lawmakers in Nebraska are working on an amendment to secure millions in extra federal funds to prevent skilled nursing facilities from closing, according to an article in the Nebraska Examiner. The move comes amidst closures of nursing homes and assisted living facilities, particularly in rural areas across the U.S. The proposed amendment, spearheaded by […]
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