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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
A federal watchdog agency is calling for “significant changes” to nursing home operations and oversight in light of new data on Covid-19 infection rates. The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) calls on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to take action in a report issued Thursday. More […]
More partnerships seem likely between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and aging services organization LeadingAge – both entities looking to their All Hands on Deck Campaign as a future model. Collaborations to improve staffing issues, burnout and nursing home quality were mentioned by HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, who joined LeadingAge members […]
Economic uncertainty, staffing shortages, looming federal regulations, a new COVID variant and major changes to the Minimum Data Set (MDS) are just a few of the challenges facing the skilled nursing sector at the dawn of 2023. But a new year is also a time for optimism. Favorable Medicaid policies, the growth of strong regional […]
As fall comes to a close and winter ushers in, the federal government is reminding nursing home operators that they must provide residents access to the latest Covid vaccines and treatment. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a memo Tuesday outlining the need for health care providers and suppliers, especially those in […]
Roughly 76% of nursing home staff and more than 60% of residents have yet to receive the new Covid-19 bivalent booster, as providers brace for the threat of a tripledemic. That’s according to an AARP analysis of federal data as of mid-October. Some states are further behind than others. Arizona, for example, has only 15.2% […]
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