‘Really Hard Time’: NY Nursing Home Sector, Union Demand $810M in Medicaid Funds, Cite Payroll Shortfalls

Nursing home owners and advocates have long decried low Medicaid reimbursements to the sector across the U.S. And now leaders in New York state – home to one of the largest number of facilities – are uniting to forcefully demand change. Much like the rest of the country, closures, especially in Upstate New York, have […]

Time with Patients, Wages, Company Culture Are Top Priorities for Nursing Home Staff, Survey Shows

As nursing home operators rethink workforce initiatives in the midst of recovering from the pandemic’s devastating labor losses and a looming federal minimum staffing proposal, it’s crucial to listen to what nurses need from their employer and what they hope to see from the sector in the future. Workforce success in 2024 may lie in […]

New Fed Funds, Career Ladder Offer Remedy for CNAs in Nursing Homes Facing Severe Burnout

The Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) is undergoing changes that could help operators bolster their workforces with better trained direct care workers and improve the career ladder for certified nurse aides (CNAs). The Moving Forward Coalition, an organization engaged in enhancing the quality of care at nursing homes, held a presentation on the latest updates […]

[UPDATED] CMS Official Confirms Agency’s Intention to Finalize Nursing Home Minimum Staffing Rule in 2024

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) officials are looking to finalize the nursing home minimum staffing proposal in 2024, an official at the federal agency confirmed at its national stakeholder call on Tuesday. Dr. Dora Hughes, acting chief medical officer and director of the Center for Clinical Standards and Quality (CCSQ), said, “The […]

South Dakota’s DHS Requests Extra Funds To Support Staffing, Census at Nursing Homes

Rural states like South Dakota are requesting more funds to address challenges to nursing homes from staffing shortages, which have accelerated shutdowns and suppressed occupancy levels. South Dakota’s Department of Human Services (DHS) requested its Legislature this week for $715.8 million in funds for fiscal 2025 in order to support nursing homes and long-term care […]

Nursing Home Leaders Aim to Harness AI, Data to Beat Staffing and Payment Challenges in 2024

For 2024, the nursing home industry’s focus must be on strategies that prioritize data accuracy, effective leadership, and innovative solutions as facilities evolve to meet changing demands and challenges from staffing. This is the view expressed during a webinar held Thursday based on a survey of our readers on their outlook for 2024 titled, “Skilled […]

‘Concerning’ Link Found Between Reduced Nursing Home Staffing Hours and Hospitalizations

There were more hospitalizations for residents in Florida nursing homes, following legislation which lowered the number of nursing hours per resident. That’s according to a report from AARP Florida, the third report the advocacy group for older adults has released since staffing hours were changed in 2022. Between 2019 to 2020 and 2022 to 2023, […]

Why Immigrant CNAs Are Crucial as the Nursing Home Space Faces A Staffing Mandate, Quality Measures

Given that nursing homes increased their reliance on immigrant certified nursing assistants (CNAs) with positive outcomes for care quality during the pandemic, researchers in the space are reiterating the need for a policy change to get more immigrant CNAs into skilled nursing.  The most effective policy solution that could help nursing homes get more immigrant […]

Another Nursing Home in State Receivership Stokes Fears of Growing Problems in Minnesota

Three facilities being placed under state control in two years in Minnesota reflects deep troubles for the sector, with many other facilities facing similar prospects and requiring immediate financial help. The latest to be pushed into state control is the Bay View Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Red Wing, which serves higher acuity residents. The […]

As a ‘Better Advisor’ to Congress, MedPAC Mulls CMS Staffing Mandate Effects But Proposes 3% Medicare Cut

The majority of MedPAC board members voted Thursday to recommend reducing Medicare-based payment rates for skilled nursing spending by 3% for 2025, despite voicing concerns about the federal minimum staffing proposed rule. MedPAC, which stands for the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, is made up of health care professionals who make recommendations to Congress in terms […]

DOL Alleges Back Wages Owed to Over 600 Next Step Healthcare Staff in 25 Nursing Homes

More than 600 skilled nursing workers may be owed back wages across 25 Massachusetts facilities in 21 communities, owned by local operator Next Step Healthcare. The Department of Labor (DOL) filed a complaint in federal court alleging that various nursing home organizations intentionally withheld overtime wages for at least 624 employees, and failed to maintain […]

DOL’s Final Rule on Worker Classification To Increase Legal Woes, Administrative Burdens for Nursing Homes

Many skilled nursing operators will need to reclassify their existing relationships with independent contractors and rethink future ones in the wake of a final rule issued by the Department of Labor (DOL) on Tuesday. The DOL’s new rule revises guidance on how to determine who is an employee and who is an independent contractor under […]

Dementia Patients in Nursing Homes Don’t Necessarily Benefit from Just Boosting Staff – Study

Increasing nursing home staffing alone will not translate into better health or quality-of-care outcomes for dementia patients. This is the finding of a recently published study in the journal, Health Services Research, which combines the efforts of experts at UC-Irvine, UCLA, and the University of Chicago.  Researchers recommend looking beyond just staffing to improve dementia […]

Inside the Balancing Act of Personal Technology Use Among Nursing Home Staff

Managing personal technology devices is a common concern among staff at businesses across the nation, and nursing homes are no exception. While policies for personal technology use at nursing home organizations run the gamut – from completely restricting cell phone use to limited use to even encouraging use among employees – nursing homes have had […]

Missouri Rep. Calls Abrupt Northview Nursing Home Closure ‘Appalling,’ Demands Formal HHS Investigation

Following the sudden closure of Northview Village, St. Louis’ largest nursing home, Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) is calling for a formal investigation into the finances, provision of care and use of Medicaid and Medicare funds of the facility. Bush sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra […]

Executive Outlook 2024: Inside the Headwinds and Opportunities That Await Nursing Homes

Nursing home leaders from across the nation, including the largest advocacy groups for the sector, plan to oversee efforts in 2024 to increase funding – both from the federal government and through improved revenue streams as operating pressures ease slightly. At the center of these efforts is an attempt at influencing the political will and […]

KFF: Nursing Home Deficiencies Jumped Almost 10% Since 2015 and Staffing Levels Are To Blame

Deficiencies in nursing homes, both on average and those deemed more serious, have increased over time – partly as a result of decreasing staffing levels. Between 2015 and 2023, facilities with serious deficiencies, or violations of federal regulations, increased from 17% to 26%, according to a data note published on Friday by KFF. The average […]