Medicaid block grants will help address ‘looming cost crisis’ due to aging population, CMS says
By
Lois A. Bowers
Jan 31, 2020
The Medicaid block grant program announced Thursday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services won’t directly affect elderly and disabled beneficiaries, CMS Administrative Seema Verma said, but...
Medicaid spent $776 million on HCBS waivers for older adults in 2014, CMS says
By
Lois A. Bowers
Nov 13, 2016
The Medicaid program spent almost $776 million on 1915(c) waivers to cover home- and community-based services for older adults in fiscal year 2014, according to a new report from the Centers for Medicare...
CMS seeks feedback on quality measures proposed for HCBS
By
Lois A. Bowers
Sep 21, 2020
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is seeking feedback on proposed national quality and outcomes measures for the Medicaid-funded home- and community-based services provided for older adults...
MFCU efforts result in 17 assisted living convictions, $265,000 in recoveries in FY 2022: OIG report
By
Lois A. Bowers
Mar 14, 2023
Efforts by state Medicaid Fraud Control Units resulted in a total of 17 criminal convictions and $265,040 in criminal case recoveries related to assisted living in fiscal year 2022, according to a new...
Philip Esformes sentenced to 20 years in prison in healthcare fraud case
By
Lois A. Bowers
Sep 12, 2019
Former Florida assisted living and skilled nursing facility owner Philip Esformes has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in a case that the federal government continues to describe as “the...
Report is ‘new territory,’ GAO director says
By
Lois A. Bowers
Feb 06, 2018
A new report about federal oversight of Medicaid beneficiaries who live in assisted living communities is “new territory” for the Government Accountability Office, the report’s author...
Senators call for more than $1B in COVID-19 funding for seniors
By
Joe Jancsurak
Feb 17, 2021
As the House stands poised to pass a massive COVID-19 relief bill, there is a good chance home care will secure a portion of the package. Senators have proposed various funding measures for home- and community-based...
Lawmakers to press Biden to increase funding for HCBS as part of larger system reform
By
Diane Eastabrook
Mar 25, 2021
Some Democratic lawmakers are holding President Joseph Biden’s feet to the fire, demanding he fulfill a campaign promise to direct $450 billion to home- and community-based services (HCBS). This funding...
Medicaid Access Rule review completed by White House
By
Lois A. Bowers
Apr 16, 2024
A proposed federal rule establishing mandatory quality measures for home- and community-based services and requiring providers to allocate 80% of HCBS payments to direct care worker pay is one step closer...
Supreme Court spars over case that could limit power of federal agencies
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jan 18, 2024
Some Supreme Court justices on Wednesday signaled their willingness to give courts more discretion in interpreting “ambiguous” federal statutes rather than leaving that work to the agencies tasked...