Why the Medicaid Battle is Leading to More Quality-Based Nursing Home Payments

In the midst of lagging Medicaid reimbursements, more nursing providers are pushing states to launch quality incentive programs that are designed to enhance care and reward high-performing long-term care providers. Twenty-four states already have them in place, and the latest to join this trend is Pennsylvania. And to that end, nursing home providers in Pennsylvania […]

Nursing Homes Must Advocate for Medicaid Increases, as States Work En Masse to Rebase Rates

The past year or two have seen big wins in terms of increased Medicaid funding for nursing homes – a welcome relief as the sector faces staffing shortages amid a looming minimum staffing proposal, higher inflationary costs and rising acuity of resident needs. The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) […]

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 […]

California Bill Seeks More State Authority on Nursing Home Ownership

Nursing home operators looking to purchase more facilities in California may need to get approval from the state Department of Public Health (CDPH) and meet certain qualifications, according to proposed guidelines introduced in a bill poised this week to move ahead in the state legislature. The state assembly is expected to vote on the bill […]

Discharge Compliance Penalties Skyrocket for California SNFs

California’s skilled nursing facilities will face surging fines if they don’t comply with transfer discharge hearing decisions, thanks to a bill passed last week by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D). Assembly Bill 133 increases fines from $50 to $750 per day if facilities “improperly transferred, discharged or refused to readmit a resident.” That’s a 1400% increase. […]

While Recognizing Dangers, California Tells Nursing Homes to Prepare for COVID-19 Patients [UPDATED]

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued recommendations for skilled nursing facilities on preparing for COVID-19 — and told them to prepare to receive and care for residents with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infections. The all-facilities letter (AFL) sent on March 19 tells SNFs to prepare for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel […]

As Wildfires Burn Near Los Angeles, Some SNFs Evacuated

The wildfires burning swaths of land across Southern California have prompted some skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) to move their residents and staffers out of harm’s way. High winds on Thursday fueled a massive fire that charred nearly 100,000 acres in Ventura County, according to the Los Angeles Times. As the blaze raged on, it blew […]

Amid Fires, California SNFs Face Tough Evacuation Decisions

With wildfires threatening multiple communities in Northern California, skilled nursing and other senior living operators are facing a dilemma all too familiar to those who work in the Gulf Coast states: to evacuate or not to evacuate? For some, the choice was clear: In Santa Rosa, Calif., officials at four Oakmont Senior Living communities evacuated 350 residents […]