Aggressive, Expensive Treatments for Cancer More Commonly Prescribed for Nursing Home Residents, Study Finds

Expensive and more aggressive treatments for cancer with “enormous personal and financial costs” are more common among nursing home residents compared to older adults who live in the community. This is according to a study published in JAMA, which notes that the higher use of aggressive medical interventions for nursing home residents at end-of-life (EOL) […]

AI Use by Medicare Advantage Blamed for Increased Denial of Nursing Home Services

Over-reliance on artificial intelligence is compromising post-acute care for nursing home residents on Medicare Advantage plans. This view of the problematic use of algorithms for prior authorizations – and denial based on incorrect assessment of patient needs – is at the center of reporting and analysis published in the health, medicine and life sciences publication, […]

Solution in Search of a Problem: CMS’ Latest Nursing Home Ownership Proposals Raise Industry Concerns

For the last year, federal regulators have taken steps to increase nursing home ownership transparency, as part of the White House’s reform agenda. The most recent actions have centered on more clearly defining different types of ownership groups and making information more consumer-friendly – and have drawn concern and criticism from within the sector. About […]

CMS Data Shows SNFs a ‘Good Landing Spot’ For Less Acute Patients, Emboldens Calls for Ending 3-Day Stay Rule

As nursing home advocates continue to push for ending the 3-day hospital stay requirement, a recently released federal agency report on the use of these waivers by accountable care organizations (ACOs) showcases some of the benefits that they have brought to patients and providers. Use of waivers by ACOs for a 3-day stay did not […]

OSHA Violence Prevention Program Could Cost Nursing Homes $177 Million

A new federal program to address workplace violence could cost the nursing home sector $177 million. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) released a document Monday detailing assessment and compliance costs. If enacted, the report states that on average, nursing homes would have to pay $10,000 annually afterward to sustain the programs. “The standard […]

Skilled Nursing Providers Step Up to Meet Increasing Behavioral Health Needs, Regulatory Scrutiny

Amina Dubuisson, vice president of clinical services at Ventura Services in Florida, who has been working in health care leadership for over a decade, has noticed a significant change in the skilled nursing provider’s patient population. As the dust settled after the first three years of the pandemic, she began to notice long-term care residents […]

Ohio Governor Signs Executive Order to Create Nursing Home Task Force

On Friday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed an executive order creating the Ohio Governor’s Nursing Home Quality and Accountability Task Force which will study issues surrounding quality of life and care in Ohio’s 960 nursing homes on an expedited timeline, according to the Dayton Daily News. “I promised that this task force would move quickly […]

Federal Lawmakers: Emergency Preparedness at Nursing Homes Inadequate, ‘A Warning Sign’

Nursing homes are in need of improving their emergency-preparedness plans to face extreme weather, a report developed by the Senate Committee on Finance and the Senate Special Committee on Aging shared Thursday. In identifying extreme weather events that occurred in 17 states since 2018 that forced evacuations at long-term care facilities, or led to resident […]

Research Indicates Five-Star Quality Rating System Needs Revision

After examining data from recertification surveys and complaint investigations from 15,499 investigations, a JAMA study found that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Five-Star Quality Rating System may be in need of revision. Consumers use the Five-Star Quality Rating System to make nursing home choices, which incorporates data from both recertification surveys and complaint […]

CMS Proposes Rule Requiring More Nursing Home Ownership Transparency, Including REIT and Private Equity Disclosures

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced Monday a proposed rule to require nursing homes to disclose more information regarding their ownership and management, including information related to assets held by real estate investment trusts (REITs) and private equity firms. Nursing homes will be expected to disclose this information as part of the […]

Nursing Home Citations Double in Florida Since 2019

Violations linked to Florida nursing homes have doubled in the last four years, according to an investigation by the Tampa Bay Times. Last year, Florida nursing homes were cited 83 times for putting their older adult residents at risk of immediate danger, and more than half of the serious violations involved staff shortages or insufficient […]

Nursing Homes Struggle to Maximize Value of Infection Preventionists, with Regulatory Scrutiny Increasing

As nursing homes come under fire for inadequate handling of infection control, many in the industry are calling for equipping facilities with more infection preventionists, and even redefining the role. Recently released data from Covid surges in 2020 seems to show that nursing homes do indeed need to improve in this area, whether through a […]

Vaccination Disparities Among Nursing Home Workers: Night Shift, Part-time Status, Race and Age Linked to Lower Rates

Night-shift staff may have lower testing rates and vaccination rates compared to day-shift staff, according to a new study from Health Affairs. The researchers also noted generational and racial disparities in testing and vaccinations. Employees who were younger, Black, worked part time as LPNs, CNAs, CMAs, or as other direct care aides, had the lowest […]

Skilled Nursing Employment Grows by 4,500 Jobs in January Despite Decreased Occupancy

Employment in nursing care facilities grew by 4,500 jobs in January, while overall employment in health care rose by 58,000 jobs, beating the monthly average of 47,000 jobs added in 2022. Jobs increased by 8,400 positions in continuing care retirement communities (CCRC) and assisted living facilities and were up by 60,700 from year earlier levels […]

Omega Execs: End of PHE ‘Not Ideal,’ SNF Portfolio Restructuring Progresses 

Skilled nursing headwinds are continuing to buffet Omega Healthcare Investors (NYSE: OHI), as the real estate investment trust continues restructuring efforts. But leaders at the REIT are cautiously optimistic about what lies ahead. Analysts with Stifel shared that optimism, based on Omega’s Q4 2022 earnings results. “We believe the numbers are essentially bottoming, and that […]

CDC: Up to 50% Higher Infection Risk for Nursing Home Residents Without Boosters

Nursing home residents who were not up-to-date with recommended COVID-19 vaccines had a 30% to 50% higher risk for contracting Covid compared with residents who were up-to-date with the vaccines, according to a new report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Despite how successful that was, there really hasn’t been a […]

Mid-Atlantic Nursing Facilities More Likely to have Emergency Preparedness Deficiencies

As climate change increases the scope and severity of hurricanes and storms, nursing homes in hurricane risk zones may need to re-evaluate their emergency preparedness status. A study published in JAMA Geriatrics found that the association between exposure to hurricane-related inundation and nursing home emergency preparedness differs considerably across the Coastal Atlantic and Gulf regulatory […]

20% of Skilled Nursing Operators Anticipate Delayed Occupancy Recovery

The share of nursing care properties reporting an increase in the pace of move-ins in the last 30 days rebounded to 17% between Dec. 2022 and Jan. 2023, compared to 6% in previous months. However, one-fifth of skilled nursing operators anticipate it will take until 2025 or later before occupancy returns to pre-pandemic levels. This […]

How Nursing Homes Can Adapt to Intensified CMS Psychotropic Drug Oversight

The nursing home industry will be feeling the pain of “another stick” with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) plan to tighten antipsychotic oversight and penalties. At least, that’s what GAPS Health CEO Dr. Jerome Wilborn thinks. GAPS Health is a medical directorship group that aims to optimize SNF efficiency and eliminate unnecessary […]