Two different legislative proposals in the state of Washington call for a change in how the state calculates Medicaid reimbursement for skilled nursing facilities. But the changes – if they take effect – may not be in time to save more facilities from closure, according to one trade group. Northwest News Network first reported on […]
Category: Medicaid
A judge in New York threw a roadblock in front of a proposed change to Medicaid reimbursement calculations, one that skilled nursing providers argued could set them back millions. Acting Supreme Court Justice Kimberly O’Connor issued a preliminary injunction on November 7 that prevents the state of New York from implementing a change in how […]
A group of nursing home owners, vendors, staffers, and families in Massachusetts says it has secured enough signatures to force a referendum in 2020 on a proposal to boost funding for nursing homes — a strategy that may have applicability in other states as skilled nursing providers grapple with solving the math problems presented by […]
The state of South Dakota earlier this year passed a significant increase to Medicaid reimbursement for nursing facilities in the state, prompted by a rash of closures. But even with the extra dollars -– the state in April authorized a 10% increase in Medicaid reimbursement for nursing homes, which translated to a roughly $8-per-day increase […]
Illinois lawmakers’ approval of a Medicaid reimbursement increase for skilled nursing facilities earlier this year came as welcome news to providers in a state notorious for its difficult operating environment. But key definitions related to the requirements for staffing are still being finalized, and the ramifications for the funding boost are still unclear. “The whole […]
Managed Medicaid plans in California have, in some cases, denied coverage to patients for nursing facility care, raising concerns among long-term care advocates in the state about coverage by such plans. California Healthline, a publication of Kaiser Health News, reported the story earlier this week. California pays plans a monthly rate for every Medicaid beneficiary […]
U.S. News & World Report on Tuesday released its 2019-2020 Best Nursing Homes ratings, which the publication has pitched as a more consumer-friendly alternative to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Nursing Home Compare website. Analysts from the national news outlet have moved away from CMS’s five-star ratings to rely on their own […]
In multiple states, supplemental programs help skilled nursing facilities offset the low reimbursement for their services from Medicaid. But the federal government is starting to take a closer look at the programs, with an eye to increasing transparency, Andrea Maresca, senior vice president at the consulting firm Thorn Run Partners, said during a presentation on […]
A coalition of nursing home providers in New York State on Thursday filed a lawsuit against the state’s Department of Health (DOH), alleging violations of federal and state law with regard to hundreds of millions in Medicaid funding cuts. “These rate reductions were motivated purely out of budgetary concerns, with no consideration for the residents […]
A new piece of legislation before Congress would expand nursing homes’ ability to perform detailed background checks on potential employees, according to its sponsor. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a New York Democrat, earlier this week announced a bill to improve health care worker hiring practices in an effort to reduce elder abuse. The initiative — known […]
Despite widespread anger in the skilled nursing industry, a controversial new warning icon for facilities with previous reports of abuse and neglect will affect only a relatively small proportion of properties, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) administrator Seema Verma told lawmakers in Washington on Wednesday. Testifying before the House Committee on Energy & […]
As part of its plans for the upcoming fiscal year, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is looking to redesign Medicaid payments for skilled nursing facilities. The ABC television affiliate NTV News first reported the news earlier this week. The new system aims to move away from a cost-based system to one […]
With a little more than a month to go before the final changes to the baseline Medicare and Medicaid requirements for nursing homes take effect, several key questions about complying with the rules remain — prompting at least one group to ask for a formal delay. The third and final updates to the Requirements of […]
Skilled nursing facilities in Michigan could see their Medicaid reimbursement cut by tens of millions later this year if the state moves forward with a proposed change that would take effect November 1. Crain’s Detroit Business first reported the news. Under the plan, Michigan would make changes to the ceiling for costs that SNFs can […]
In a health care landscape full of challenges, staffing consistently ranks as the top concern for skilled nursing facilities. But the second-most prevalent concern is patients and residents who have mental health needs and substance use disorders, according to a top federal official — and there are no easy answers for how SNFs should cope. […]
The federal government on Thursday rolled out yet another initiative aimed at nursing home safety, announcing a multi-pronged effort to strengthen its oversight of State Survey Agencies (SSAs). The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will implement a variety of new assessment tools in the State Performance Standards System (SPSS), its rubric for grading […]
A plan to significantly change New York State’s Medicaid reimbursement model for nursing homes remains up in the air, leaving operators wondering if they could face retroactive cuts to the tune of millions of dollars. Back in June, New York officials filed a state plan amendment (SPA) with the federal government that would make changes […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on Monday announced a plan to begin displaying a warning icon for nursing homes with abuse citations on its flagship consumer-facing website. Starting October 23, visitors to Nursing Home Compare will see a red circle with an open palm on the pages for facilities that have received […]
Just about a week after changing hands, four skilled nursing facilities in Nebraska announced plans to soon shut down amid financial difficulties that their new owners blamed on a tough overall state budget landscape. The four facilities — Blue Hill Care Center in Blue Hill, Crestview Care Center in Milford, Mory’s Haven in Columbus, and […]
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra criticized a proposed federal rule that would delay certain aspects of Phase 3 of the Requirements of Participation for skilled nursing facilities, arguing that the move would roll back key protections for residents. Announced in July, the proposed rule seeks to reduce reporting and paperwork burdens through delaying certain parts […]