As the staffing minimum mandate inches closer to an official release, associations with ties to the nursing home industry continue to meet this week with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) – the government agency currently reviewing the proposal. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) transferred the proposal to OMB for review […]
Category: Compliance
Nursing home operators in New York can expect to see assessments tied to the state minimum staffing standard as early as July 10, the state Department of Health said in a memo. Facilities that are out of compliance with the new staffing standards could receive civil monetary penalties of up to $2,000 per day, the […]
While many states have enacted long-anticipated Medicaid rebasing, some nursing home leaders say it’s too little too late. States like Iowa, with smaller facilities largely run by independent owners, are seeing closures despite receiving $15 million to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates beginning July 1. Reality has hit many such independent owners, according to Michael Beal, […]
Nursing home and labor leaders believe more labor organizing will happen in conjunction with the forthcoming federal staffing minimum mandate, as the sector has historically seen a low proportion of workers covered by union contracts. Having a federal standard in place could begin collective bargaining efforts, or maybe remove this sticking point in labor negotiations, […]
A Medicare Advantage bundled payment model for hip and knee replacements offered by Humana (NYSE: HUM) was associated with reduced skilled nursing facility use. These bundled payments were also linked to reduced spending overall for lower extremity joint replacements (LEJR) – while maintaining quality of care, according to a study published in JAMA Network. Of […]
Concerns about lack of skilled nursing access for cancer patients, as well as oncology-related costs borne by skilled nursing facilities, have prompted operators to call for action from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Several nursing home professionals raised this issue in comments to CMS’ proposed Medicare payment update for 2024. One oncology […]
Following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation to administer the RSV vaccine to seniors aged 60 and older, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra issued a statement Friday backing the recommendation. Becerra said the move will ensure stronger protection for nursing home residents ahead of winter months. The vaccines are the first licensed in […]
Owners, operators and landlords of Centers Health Care in New York are facing a lawsuit filed by the state Attorney General Letitia James on Wednesday, which alleges the four SNFs illegally misused more than $83 million in taxpayer money. Diverted funds went toward, among other things, funding the purchase of Israeli airline El Al, according […]
Moving ahead with its reform initiatives to make nursing home ownership more transparent, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on Wednesday began posting names of affiliated owners and aggregate data related to staffing and other metrics for ownership groups. The agency made the information available on Nursing Home Care Compare and data.cms.gov; consumers […]
Legislative efforts to expand the types of positions that count toward Florida’s minimum staffing ratio seem to have backfired somewhat, as overall staffing levels in the state’s 700 nursing homes have declined within the past two years. That’s according to a report published by AARP Florida, which found that staffing levels dropped from 4.74 hours […]
Nursing homes facing an increased risk of local wildfires in the Mountain West and Pacific Northwest regions had deficiencies in emergency preparedness, while reinspection for these facilities also lagged. This is according to a new study published on Monday in JAMA Network Open. The study evaluated whether nursing homes that are at elevated risk of […]
As the skilled nursing sector awaits the proposed federal staffing mandate, leading industry operators renewed calls for funding the initiative, and said the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) should carry it out in phases while also adjusting staffing ratios based on the acuity of the resident populations being served. Speaking at Skilled Nursing […]
Clinical staff in nursing homes can successfully improve care and reduce hospitalizations by virtually monitoring patients, according to a study on novel nurse-driven virtual care models released Tuesday. The qualitative study of remote monitoring models has implications for addressing staffing challenges at nursing homes without compromising patient care. The Regenstrief Institute in Indianapolis implemented a […]
Value-based care program (VBP) measures proposed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have long loomed over skilled nursing operators, and now it seems more are finally on their way for 2026. Staffing-related measures, rehospitalization, discharge and infection prevention are all areas of focus for CMS’ proposed and finalized measures alike. Moreover, proposals […]
Nursing home residents say they fear retaliation from staff for voicing their concerns – and asking for care and services to which they’re entitled – leading to unnecessary emotional, psychological and physical harm. Exacerbated workforce challenges play a big role in staff-resident relationships, as staff are “put in a position to fail residents” due to […]
As nursing home staffing agencies popped up amid the pandemic’s exacerbated staffing crisis, so too have litigation pitfalls for operators eager to fill shifts as the staffing crisis continues. One such pitfall that is expected to become a huge issue for operators is related to bringing 1099 workers, or independent contractors, for clinical positions into […]
In a 7-2 ruling, the Supreme Court on Thursday morning ruled that nursing home residents and their families can sue publicly-owned nursing home facilities under the Federal Nursing Home Reform Act. The case presented the question of whether Medicaid beneficiaries can seek relief in federal court when they believe their rights are being violated by […]
Frequent nursing home closures and an access crisis across the country mean skilled nursing providers and unions must put aside their differences to find common ground in the post-pandemic age. However, achieving that alignment in the midst of seismic regulatory changes and legal challenges is another story. “We’re at a crossroads,” said Zach Shamberg, president […]
As hospital advocates criticize low reimbursements to nursing homes and home health, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is bearing down on hospitals to revamp their discharge process when releasing patients to SNFs. Citing areas of concern related to missing or inaccurate patient information upon discharge, CMS is requiring that hospitals have an […]
With an ever increasing aging population that is sicker with higher acuities, COO Shawn Neville of SALMON Health and Retirement says capturing an accurate financial picture is a challenge for nursing homes – and an additional reason why so many are closing down. Neville was named to his current position at the family-owned and Massachusetts-based […]
Subscribe
Receive industry updates and breaking news from SNN.