Marijuana usage among the elderly has become a growing trend, as more and more states decriminalize the use of the substance — creating a delicate situation for many skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and senior living providers. To date, 29 states, including Washington, D.C., have legalized the medical use of marijuana, and California recently joined a […]
Citing a collaborative revision process with the state government, a major long-term care (LTC) industry trade group has withdrawn its opposition to a Florida rule that would require the use of backup generators in skilled nursing facilities. LeadingAge Florida formally rescinded its objection to the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA)’s proposed rule last week, […]
Better record-keeping could help skilled nursing facilities protect themselves from litigation or penalties as regulators looks to cut down on improper discharges. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) last month announced a new initiative aimed at blunting the growing trend of illegal “dumping,” or eviction, of SNF residents. Common reasons for discharges often include payment […]
Eight Massachusetts state legislators have asked state Attorney General Maura Healey to investigate Kindred Healthcare (NYSE: KND) as it plans to close four nursing homes and an assisted living facility in the greater Boston area, the Boston Globe reported. The lawmakers accused Kindred of misusing state funds at the facilities it plans to close, including […]
A group of five nursing home providers sued the state of Illinois late last week in federal court, claiming that low Medicaid reimbursement rates in the Land of Lincoln could force them to shut down. The companies specifically accuse Felicia F. Norwood, director of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, of violating federal […]
A federal judge last week threw out a $350 million False Claims Act judgment against a Florida nursing home provider, writing that its occasionally inaccurate record-keeping didn’t amount to deliberate fraud. In a fiery ruling, U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday wrote that the claims brought by a whistleblower against Salus Rehabilitation, LLC — namely […]
You’ve made it to the end of the week before a long holiday weekend, but before you go, take a look at some of the top stories from the nursing home world that didn’t make it to Skilled Nursing News. But first, a quick reminder that SNN’s headquarters in Chicago will be closed on Monday, […]
The skilled nursing industry is still sorting out how it will participate in a newly announced bundled payment model rolled out by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Tuesday. Early analysis of the text from CMS seems to exclude skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies and other post-acute care providers from applying for […]
Research shows that statewide paid family leave laws have a slew of benefits for both employees and employers across industries, from higher worker morale to health improvements among children. But for skilled nursing operators, this type of legislation could have an unintended negative consequence: a decline in census. The implementation of generous paid family leave (PFL) […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on Tuesday introduced a new alternative payment model, the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Advanced (BPCI Advanced). The model, coming out of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, is a voluntary bundled payment program that enables participants to earn additional payments for a beneficiary’s episode of care if quality is maintained […]
President Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday again expressed some support for the idea of converting Medicaid to a block-grant program, though he cautioned that any solution is still far in the future. Testifying before the Senate Finance Committee, Alex Azar said he can “find a lot of […]
Fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare has been increasingly de-emphasized in favor of newer payment models such as Medicare Advantage (MA), but a new study in the journal Health Affairs suggests that FFS might provide better skilled-nursing choices for its beneficiaries. “Even after accounting for the quality of nursing homes in a geographic area and the quality of Medicare Advantage […]
A nursing home owner and operator in New York City will be required to open two new facilities as part of a settlement announced late last week. New York State attorney general Eric Schneiderman also slapped the Brooklyn-based Allure Group with $2 million in fines stemming from the company’s acquisition and subsequent sale of two […]
Long before a major winter storm hit the East Coast early Thursday, skilled nursing providers across the region had a plan — with an assist from solid teamwork. The so-called “bomb cyclone” hit close to home for Dan Reingold, president and CEO of New York City-based skilled nursing and rehabilitation provider RiverSpring Health, who spent […]
Average isn’t good enough when it comes to influenza vaccination rates among staffers at nursing homes, a new poll suggests. The survey, from the National Poll on Healthy Aging and conducted by the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, found significant support among people over age 50 for a flu vaccine requirement for […]
After a 2017 that saw a change in presidential administrations, continuing occupancy pressures, declarations that the industry is in a historic downward spiral, and the most sweeping tax overhaul in a generation, players in the skilled nursing mergers-and-acquisitions world might be wondering if 2018 could possibly bring even more turmoil. Earlier this week, Skilled Nursing […]
Now that we’ve broken down the top 10 stories of the last year, it’s time for us to dive into our predictions for the top skilled nursing trends of the coming 12 months. Some key headwinds, such as questions over Medicaid reimbursements, declining occupancy, and new regulations — including the final round of the requirements […]
A bill reintroduced in the House of Representatives Wednesday aims to strip away a long-standing Medicare provision that places restrictions on beneficiaries who seek rehabilitation services in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). Known as the Creating Access to Rehabilitation for Every Senior Act (H.R. 4701)—or the CARES Act of 2017—the bill would eliminate Medicare’s three-day prior […]
Congressional Republicans on Wednesday passed their long-planned tax reform package, and while President Trump has classified the deal as a Christmas gift to American taxpayers, the effects for skilled nursing operators and investors remains less than clear-cut. For instance, non-profit developers of continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) received mixed holiday blessings: The compromise tax bill saving […]
The skilled nursing industry faces an existential crisis over its future, and 2017 was a year filled with threats — financial and regulatory woes at top providers, plummeting occupancy, and continued reimbursement pressures. But it was also a year that saw promising research illustrating the utility of SNF care and successes in new payment models, […]
By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. More Information
The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. For more information, see our cookie policy.
