Nine Comprehensive Healthcare Nursing Homes Sold in Contentious $53M Deal to Kadima

Pennsylvania bankruptcy court late Monday approved the $53 million sale of nine nursing homes in the state to affiliates of Kadima Healthcare Group, as part of Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings for more than a dozen facilities operating under Comprehensive Healthcare Management Solutions. Notably, transaction documents do not transfer assets to any insiders, affiliates, officers or […]

Helene Aftermath: Nursing Homes Face ‘Long and Difficult’ Recovery Amid Evacuations and Power Outages

As states in Hurricane Helene’s path grapple with its devastating effects days after it made landfall in Florida Thursday evening, nursing home operators are dealing with significant repair and maintenance challenges that could last a while – particularly in states like North Carolina. Damage to transportation, power and utilities could make recovery in some states […]

Texas Files Lawsuit Against Nursing Home Staffing Rule, Citing ‘Enormous Costs,’ Closures

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against federal agencies over the minimum staffing rule for nursing homes, claiming the rule’s implementation without clear congressional authorization constitutes an overreach of regulatory power. The Texas lawsuit argues that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) staffing mandate violates the Major Questions Doctrine […]

Nursing Home Staffing Mandate Lawsuit Could Be Resolved By January as All Parties Seek ‘Efficient’ Resolution

A resolution to the lawsuit challenging the nursing home federal minimum staffing mandate could be reached as early as January, if the court finalizes a proposed schedule put forth by the American Health Care Association (AHCA), LeadingAge and other industry leaders. If this turns out to be the case, the lawsuit would be resolved more […]

SCOTUS Ruling Could Shake Up CMS Approach to Civil Monetary Penalties, Invite Litigation at Nursing Homes

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) issuance of civil monetary penalties is in the crosshairs of litigators, as increasingly gained enforcement power comes up against a Supreme Court decision. In the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) v. Jarkesy case, SCOTUS ruled that defendants have a constitutional right to make their case to a […]

Inside Rising Cyber Attacks: Tackling Insurance Hikes, Payment Disruptions at Nursing Homes

Health care cyber attacks have been an ever-present threat for providers, including nursing homes. But the most recent attacks on Change Healthcare have had ripple effects on the industry, prompting lobbying groups and federal agencies to action. The attack in February has affected cash flow and claims processes for some nursing home operators, associations said, […]

As Congress Unveils Spending Bill, HHS’ Becerra Defends $130.7B 2025 Budget, Nursing Home Staffing Mandate

Congressional leaders released on Thursday bipartisan fiscal appropriations bills for 2024 totaling $1.2 trillion in funding, including for health care. Ahead of it, two House panels grilled the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra on Wednesday during hearings on White House’s fiscal 2025 budget proposal for the department. Becerra addressed lawmaker’s […]

Senators Blast Nursing Homes’ Staffing Proposal in Finance Meeting, Citing Lack of Funding, Staff

Some Republican senators blasted the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) minimum staffing proposal for nursing homes in a recent finance committee meeting, noting the paltry $75 million to bolster staffing isn’t enough to support upcoming regulations. Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) pointed out that four of five facilities won’t be able to comply with […]

Abruptly Closed St. Louis Nursing Home Issued More Fines for Safety, Admin Violations

The largest nursing home in St. Louis, which was shuttered abruptly in December, is now facing more fines linked to safety and administration requirement violations when moving residents out. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is fining Northview Village directors Makhlouf and Lorraine Suissa and Eric Rothner more than $18,000 per day, totaling […]

HHS: Financial Stalemate Factored Into Fiasco of St. Louis’ Largest Nursing Home Closing

Following the abrupt closure in December of Northview Village, St. Louis’ largest skilled nursing facility, federal agencies issued a scathing 59-page report detailing the failures of leadership immediately before and after the facility shut its doors. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) found the facility failed to follow its emergency preparedness plan, […]

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 […]

Nursing Home Associations: HHS Needs To Do Its Part to Boost Vaccine Uptake as Latest CDC Data Shows Lags

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its Secretary, Xavier Becerra, need to “do its part” to increase Covid vaccination rates among nursing home residents, starting with easing logistical issues that continue to be barriers to uptake. That’s according to LeadingAge President and CEO Katie Smith Sloan, who also cited the benefits of […]

Amid Surging Covid Infections, Nursing Homes Face Delays in New Vaccine Roll Out 

Thousands of nursing home residents are facing delays in getting vaccinated for Covid-19 now that the federal government isn’t issuing vaccines, and most long-term care operators have yet to start administering shots. Many nursing homes will not begin vaccinations until well into October or even November, according to an article in the New York Times […]

HHS Secretary Becerra Urges RSV Vaccine for Nursing Home Residents

Following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation to administer the RSV vaccine to seniors aged 60 and older, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra issued a statement Friday backing the recommendation. Becerra said the move will ensure stronger protection for nursing home residents ahead of winter months. The vaccines are the first licensed in […]

White House Order Aims to Tie Nursing Home Medicare Payments to Worker Retention

The White House today announced that President Biden will enact “the most sweeping set of executive actions to improve care in history,” which will include directives related to nursing home staffing and Medicare payments. Specifically, Biden’s executive order will direct the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to “build on the minimum staffing standards […]

Nursing Home Survey Teams Need Not Always Have an RN, Federal Court Rules

A nursing home’s Medicaid survey team doesn’t always have to include a registered nurse (RN), according to a federal district court decision concerning a New York-based facility. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York last week entered into a summary judgment in favor of the U.S. Department of Health and Human […]

Nursing Homes Need More Non-Monetary Infection Prevention Enforcement, GAO Says

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommended doing away with limits on visitation and group activities at nursing homes and called for more infection prevention research, training and control as well as staffing solutions in a report issued on Monday. The government agency shared these and other recommendations for the Department of Health and Human Services […]

CMS Administrator: $566M Devoted to SNF Oversight in White House Budget

As the nursing home industry passes the anniversary of sweeping reform initiatives by the Biden Administration, the proposed Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) budget for 2024 includes new dollars to strengthen federal oversight of the industry. Specifically, the proposal seeks to reserve about $566 million for CMS Survey and Certification Program funding, a […]

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 […]

GAO: Nursing Home Ownership Needs to be More Transparent on Care Compare

In an effort to make nursing home ownership information more transparent and readily available to the public, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) started compiling ownership data on Care Compare. But, the agency’s web-based tool falls short of transparency and ease of access goals, according to a study published by the U.S. Government […]