Why CMS Staffing Mandate Could Jumpstart Union Efforts in Nursing Homes

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, […]

AARP Warns that Easing Staffing Requirements Hurt Nursing Home Quality in Florida 

As shifting state staffing mandates and looming federal requirements run up against the ongoing nursing home workforce shortage, industry leaders are taking a closer look at how exactly staffing requirements have affected quality of care. AARP Florida on Monday released a report outlining the state’s direct care requirements for the last decade – and how […]

Politico: White House Patience Wearing Thin with Nursing Home Booster Rates

As the Biden administration becomes increasingly frustrated with lagging nursing home booster numbers, the White House seeks to take renewed action. That’s according to an article published by Politico on Thursday; redoubled efforts have been taken to send lists of senior facilities with zero people vaccinated – potential penalties and fines could be attached, according […]

What the Eventual End of the Public Health Emergency Will Mean For Nursing Home Operators

Despite the federal government’s likely decision to keep the public health emergency (PHE) in place past January, the nursing home industry continues to prepare for operations without the safety net of certain waivers. Leaders in the space say any continuation of PHE waivers – temporary or permanent – should be dependent on cost and patient […]

Why a Nursing Home Case Heard by SCOTUS Could Have Sweeping Implications 

Larger implications surrounding a nursing home case to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court on Nov. 8 has both operators and civil rights activists anxiously awaiting a decision. For SNF operators, the case could determine whether state-owned nursing homes are shielded from federal lawsuits. Far-reaching questions regarding Medicaid beneficiaries and their rights in federal […]

3 Nursing Home Legal Issues to Watch in 2022 and Beyond

As a flurry of regulations and mandates descend upon the nursing home sector, such changes could create legal obstacles, and suggest yet another difficult and onerous year for providers. Staffing mandates, the aftermath of the end of the public health emergency (PHE), Covid liability and the PREP Act, all create “existential threats” for skilled nursing […]

States Await CMS Approval For Skilled Nursing TNA Waivers As Deadline Looms

Nursing homes across the country are anxiously waiting for the federal government to approve temporary nurse aide (TNA) waivers just days before the program is set to expire. Massachusetts, Washington, Indiana and Louisiana have had their statewide waiver requests approved so far, but more than 10 states were still waiting for further information to be […]

Nursing Home Industry Takes National Stage Again as House Hearing Skewers For-Profit Ownership

The nursing home industry was thrust back into the national spotlight this week as federal lawmakers called out for-profit ownership for their lack of resources during the early months of the pandemic and confounding corporate structures. The Congressional Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, chaired by Rep. James Clyburn, held a hearing on Wednesday to […]

Operators Urge CMS to Reconsider Winding Down Essential Waivers as SNF Recovery Varies

Nursing home operators were able to tell the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) directly how much certain waivers helped their organizations during the pandemic, with the temporary nurse aide (TNA) and three-day stay waivers being the most beneficial. SNF industry leaders also made their case for extending waivers or making some permanent during […]

Nursing Home Operator Sued Over Covid Death Asks Supreme Court to Hear PREP Act Case

The U.S. Supreme Court will have to decide whether it will hear a nursing home Covid-19 wrongful death case involving the PREP Act — potentially interpreting the federal statute for the first time. California-based nursing home operator Glenhaven Healthcare asked the Supreme Court to consider taking up the case in late August after the 9th […]

Crackdown On Illegal Debt Collection Practices is Latest Federal Push for Nursing Home Reform

The federal government has continued its efforts toward intensive scrutiny into the skilled nursing sector with a push against illegal nursing home debt collection practices. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a joint letter to operators and debt collectors, as a reminder that a nursing […]

CMS: Medicaid Funding a ‘Key Lever’ to Improving Nursing Home Quality, Staffing

In line with the Biden administration’s nursing home reform initiatives outlined in February, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is encouraging states to allocate Medicaid dollars toward improving staffing, and help the federal agency fully realize its goal of strengthening quality of care, accountability and transparency in the sector. The agency listed several […]

Operational and Financial Pressures Spur Skilled Nursing Deals, Cool Sellers’ Market

While the skilled nursing sector has seen a seller’s market the past couple years, brokers believe the pendulum is swinging the other way, toward more of an equilibrium and normalization of prices. Increased expenses tied to inflation, the ongoing staffing crisis and lackluster occupancy are all contributing to a less favorable market for sellers, while […]