‘Textbook Unlawful’: Nursing Home Plaintiffs Urge Judge to Swiftly Halt CMS Staffing Mandate

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) overstepped its authority in finalizing the federal nursing home staffing mandate, which “cannot stand” and should be set aside swiftly by a judge. This is the argument that the American Health Care Association, LeadingAge and other plaintiffs made in a Motion for Summary Judgment filed on Oct. […]

HMG Healthcare CEO Reflects on First Half of 2024, Leading Legal Fight to Stop Nursing Home Staffing Mandate

Even though Derek Prince, CEO of HMG Healthcare, has been encouraging new initiatives to improve staffing at this organization and is celebrating wins on that front, he is fully aware of the unfolding crisis the federal minimum staffing mandate will represent for providers across Texas. Hence, Prince, who is also a board member of the […]

[UPDATED] ‘A Nightmare’: AHCA Files Lawsuit Against Federal Nursing Home Staffing Mandate

The American Health Care Association (AHCA) filed a lawsuit late Thursday against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for exceeding their statutory authority and “arbitrarily and capriciously issuing” a final minimum staffing rule. The lawsuit asks the court to issue an order and […]

Texas, Nebraska Led Nation in Nursing Home Closures in 2022

Texas and Nebraska led the nation for most nursing home closures in 2022, with industry advocates citing inadequate Medicaid rates that have not kept pace with a tough economic and operating environment. And advocates also caution that the latest numbers are likely understated, with even more facility closures occurring. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid […]

Nursing Care Facilities Add 2,800 Workers Amid ‘Growing But Slowing’ Labor Market

Nursing care facilities added about 2,800 jobs in November 2022, as the health care sector overall saw payrolls increase by about 45,000 workers. Hiring in nursing care slowed down from October, when nursing homes added about 4,100 new workers. Job growth overall slowed in November, with nonfarm payrolls increasing by 263,000, compared with average growth […]

NAHCA, ShiftMed Partner to Help Hire and Retain More CNAs as Workforce Shortages Continue

Together with ShiftMed, the National Association of Health Care Assistants (NAHCA) is launching a new training platform that will give nursing providers a new outlet for recruitment, certification, job placement, continuing education and ongoing career support all in one place. The platform, dubbed the National Institute for CNA Excellence or NICE, includes a learning management […]

‘The Tide Has Shifted Significantly’ for Nursing Home Financial Support

While nursing home operators have largely relied on help from the federal government by way of the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) and other mechanisms to get through the COVID-19 pandemic, some leaders have found more success refocusing advocacy efforts to state legislatures for future funding. “When the stimulus bill came out and passed with trillions […]

Texas Nursing Homes to Receive $200M after State Lawmakers Pass Bill

As a way to pump some much needed funding into nursing homes to help with staffing shortages, Texas lawmakers passed Senate Bill 8, also known as the ARPA Funds bill, which includes financial support for long-term care in the state. The bill proposes $200 million as grants for nursing homes and $178.3 million in grants […]

Leaders Urge Texas to Allocate $400M to Bolster SNF Staffing as 30% of Facilities Have Restricted Admissions

The Texas Health Care Association (THCA), in a joint proposal with aging services organization LeadingAge Texas, this week requested $400 million in funding to help providers staff buildings amid the skilled nursing workforce shortage. That’s less than 3% of the total federal aid funding allocated to the state, THCA said in a letter to Texas […]

‘No Good Options’: As COVID-19 Surges in the South and Sun Belt, Testing for Nursing Homes Lags Behind

Texas and Arizona have emerged as new potential COVID-19 hotspots in the latter half of June, but despite widespread knowledge of the danger to elderly residents, skilled nursing facilities in those states still face hurdles in securing testing and timely results. New COVID-19 cases in Texas have climbed significantly since mid-June, according to data from […]

Proposed Medicaid Rule Would Mean Billions in Cuts, Waves of Nursing Home Closures

With skilled nursing facilities in multiple states facing significant shortfalls in their Medicaid reimbursement, supplemental payment programs used to bolster rates have become a lifeline. This is especially true for Texas and Indiana, both of which employ programs designed to get SNFs a higher rate for Medicaid services through varying mechanisms. Both states are motivated […]

Bill to Boost Medicaid Rates for Texas Nursing Homes Dies Before a Vote

The Texas Legislature failed to pass two bills that would have provided Medicaid reimbursement relief for skilled nursing providers before the end of its most recent session. That could spell trouble for providers in the Lone Star State, which already has a notably low Medicaid reimbursement rate, according to Kevin Warren, president and CEO of […]

Texas Floats Plans to Boost Medicaid Funding Through SNF Quality Program

After a high-profile bankruptcy in December of last year, Texas now has two bills that aim to provide some Medicaid reimbursement relief to skilled nursing providers in the state. The bills, Senate Bill 1050 and House Bill 3342, would establish a long-term care quality provider participation program (QPPP) in the state that provides additional compensation […]

Leaders Declare Senior Care Staffing Crisis in Texas Amid 97% Turnover

Operators of nursing homes in Texas reported 97% turnover for certified nursing assistants, with 90% turnover for other key frontline caregiver positions — promoting leaders in the state to declare a “crisis.” The Texas Health Care Association called for higher Medicaid reimbursement rates to help mitigate the trend in a recent report on its members’ financial […]