House Democrats on Wednesday called on Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma to change her mind on reinstating the use of arbitration clauses in skilled nursing contracts. Referencing the recent problems at nursing homes in the aftermaths of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, 46 Democratic representatives wrote a letter to Verma asking […]
Efforts to improve comprehensive dementia care and reduce antipsychotic use in long-term care are paying off, with skilled nursing facilities exceeding goals set five years ago. But SNFs that still have high rates of antipsychotic use now have to meet a new benchmark established by the Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). As part of its National […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has withdrawn a proposed rule to extend spousal rights to same-sex married couples. The rule is no longer needed, as same-sex marriage became legal and recognized in all 50 states since it was proposed, the agency stated in its reasoning. The rule was proposed in December 2014 as part […]
Nursing home complaints handled by state authorities rose by one third between 2011 and 2015 — even as occupancy at skilled nursing facilities declined slightly. In addition, a handful of states accounted for the majority of late investigations, according to a new data brief from the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the […]
Skilled nursing providers affected by Hurricane Irma are getting some relief. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has granted exceptions for some quality reporting for providers in affected areas. Hurricane Irma, which battered the state of Florida in early September prompted an unprecedented number of evacuations from SNFs. The storm came within just […]
Skilled nursing operators were already focused on emergency preparations before the recent hurricanes, but following the deaths of eight SNF residents in the wake of Hurricane Irma, providers can expect harsh consequences if their plans don’t meet requirements. Local authorities are still sorting out what exactly went wrong at the 152-bed Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills […]
Before you start sifting through your inbox, here’s what you need to know from the world of skilled nursing news from the past week: Kindred Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE: KND) began its exit from the skilled nursing industry, announcing the $519 million sale of 54 SNFs in 10 states — out of a total of 89 […]
Over the past decade, the behind-the-scenes relationship between hospitals and skilled nursing facilities has warmed through more common investors, and researchers from Harvard University are raising questions about competition and antitrust regulations. The percentage of acute care hospitals having common investor ties to the post-acute or hospice sectors increased from 24.6% in 2005 to 48.9% in […]
Skilled nursing facilities are in for a short-term reprieve if a proposal to reduce some bundled payments by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is finalized, according to a recent Fitch Ratings report. CMS proposed reducing some bundled payment models and canceling mandatory programs yet to be implemented. The move, while largely unsurprising given the current […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on Thursday announced an emergency suspension of Medicare quality reporting requirements for skilled nursing and other health care facilities affected by Hurricane Harvey. Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) located in 32 Texas counties and five Louisiana parishes will be automatically granted exceptions for submitting Quality Reporting Program data […]
The skilled nursing industry cheered earlier this year when the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it would reverse course on a plan to ban arbitration agreements between SNF operators and residents. But as the public learns more about the issue, the backlash has been harsh — and national publications are taking […]
Two prominent skilled nursing industry groups are applauding a recent proposal from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to scale back mandatory bundled payment models. Specifically, the Episode Payment Models (EPMs) and the Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) incentive payment model are on the chopping block. Under the proposal, which was issued Tuesday afternoon, CMS would […]
For skilled nursing providers looking for ways to reduce unnecessary hospitalizations, taking on advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) could be the way forward. That’s according to Marilyn Rantz, professor of nursing for Missouri University’s Sinclair School of Nursing. In 2012, the nursing school received almost $15 million from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for an initiative aimed […]
If you haven’t been able to take your eyes off the Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. (NASDAQ: SBRA)-Care Capital Properties, Inc. (NYSE: CCP) drama, here’s some other stories in the skilled nursing world that you may have missed over the last seven days. It was a big week of news from the Sunshine State: Non-profit […]
A bill recently reintroduced in the U.S. Senate aims to make skilled nursing services more readily available for veterans of the military. Sens. John Hoeven (R-ND) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) on July 20 reintroduced the Veterans Access to Long Term Care and Health Services Act (S. 1611). The legislation would allow the Department of Veterans Affairs to […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released updated market saturation data, revealing the number of skilled nursing providers and fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries in each state. Texas, California, and Ohio had the highest number of providers, according to the data set period between October 2015 through September 2016. California and Texas lost some […]
In case you missed it, here’s a look at the past week in skilled nursing news, from a potential final showdown between a major provider and its landlord to a peek into the highest-paid executives in the business. Today’s the day for HCR ManorCare, Inc. to pay the back rent it owes Quality Care Properties, […]
Spending on skilled nursing services rose the fastest in Nevada over the previous two decades, followed by multiple states in the South, according to a new report from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Payers in the Silver State — including Medicare, Medicaid, and private sources — shelled out $709 million for care […]
Skilled nursing facilities are a prime breeding ground for Legionnaires’ disease, and an outbreak could prove costly for the operator — both in terms of care outcomes and additional expenses — according to a recent presentation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC analyzed 2015 data related to outbreaks of the potentially […]
Months after trying unsuccessfully to ban the pre-dispute arbitration agreements in long-term care, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is now proposing that the controversial practice be allowed after all. CMS’ new proposed rule was published in a Federal Register document on Monday afternoon. It comes after skilled nursing providers pushed back against […]
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