Nursing Home Clinicians Need a Seat at the Policy Table to Address ‘Chronic Underfunding’ and Workforce Shortages

At a time when healthcare policy changes and potential Medicaid cuts create uncertainty for nursing homes, Signature HealthCARE is forging ahead with initiatives that will result in certain wins for providers. According to Kathy Gallin, vice president of legislative affairs and health policy at Signature HealthCARE, key legislative priorities for the organization include workforce solutions […]

Trump Admin Rescinds Federal Funding Freeze, A Major Source of Confusion for Medicaid Recipients in Nursing Homes

Days after the Trump administration issued an executive order to freeze federal aid, it has been rescinded. The order affected Medicaid funding, with at least 20 states on Tuesday unable to draw funds. More than six out of 10 nursing home residents rely on Medicaid to cover their daily care; it’s a critical safety net […]

‘A Bit Disarming’: CMS, Health Agencies Pause Communication Per Trump Orders, Raising Concerns at Nursing Homes

The newly installed Trump administration late Tuesday prompted federal health agencies, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), to pause external communications through Feb. 1. That includes regular scientific reports, updates to websites and health advisories – communication that those in the nursing home industry regularly rely upon. Nursing home associations including the […]

Legal Defeat Remains Key Even if Legislative, Administrative Barriers Make Repeal of the Nursing Home Staffing Mandate Inevitable

In the aftermath of the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) response to a pending lawsuit against the federal minimum staffing mandate, nursing home sector experts are stressing that legally defeating the mandate – and effectively canceling it – remains crucial. “The section [in HHS’s response] relating to the limitation on the relief is […]

Judge Pledges to ‘Work as Quickly as I Can’ After Hearing Arguments to Pause Nursing Home Staffing Mandate

In the litigation against the federal nursing home staffing mandate, in which state attorneys general from 20 states are seeking a temporary halt, a federal judge heard oral arguments from both the government and the states on Thursday. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) urged the federal judge to deny the injunctive relief requested by […]

National Study Confirms Medicaid Payments Fall Short of Costs, Shows Links to Staffing Levels and Ownership

A new study on Medicaid payment rates from 44 states shows Medicaid payment rates among nursing homes on average don’t adequately cover today’s costs. Meanwhile, higher staffing levels often correlate with lower Medicaid payment-to-cost ratios. And, nonprofits appear to have the lowest payment-to-cost ratio for Medicaid. Medicaid rates only covered bout 82 cents per every […]

‘Paperwork Over Patients’: AHCA Says Nursing Home Medicare Revalidation Is Rushed, Requests Flexibility

Skilled nursing facilities need reasonable flexibility and additional support to meet the latest federal mandate – an off-cycle revalidation process for Medicare – for which nursing home advocates are seeking an extension. The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) sent a letter on Wednesday to the U.S. Department of Health […]

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 […]