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...
Biden names former North Carolina health secretary to be new CDC director
Jun 16, 2023
Mandy Cohen, MD, comes with credentials that should help her lead the beleaguered agency, criticized for its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
New group will advocate for dually eligible nursing home residents, other beneficiaries
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
Feb 22, 2024
A newly formed alliance of healthcare and consumer organizations has formed to advance the integration of Medicare and Medicaid for dually eligible nursing home residents and other older adults.
Aging services organizations support campaign to enable more care by advanced nurses
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Jun 08, 2023
Two national aging services organizations have co-signed a letter supporting a bill that aims to “eliminate outdated barriers” that currently restrict care by advanced practice registered nurses.
CMS proposes ‘universal’ quality measures to ease provider burden, confusion
By
Lois A. Bowers
Feb 06, 2023
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services leaders are proposing the creation of a “universal foundation” of quality measures to reduce the reporting burden and confusion for providers and better align...
Medicaid unwinding complicates care decisions for some assisted living providers
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Apr 03, 2024
As states navigate the Medicaid redetermination process, some assisted living providers that accept Medicaid for their low-income residents have experienced payment disruptions. This situation leaves them...
CMS updates spousal impoverishment standards
By
Lois A. Bowers
May 22, 2024
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Wednesday announced updated 2024 spousal impoverishment standards, which apply when married individuals seek coverage of certain long-term services and supports...
Paper analyzes government policy’s role in creating LTC problems
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
Oct 11, 2022
The Medicaid program is largely responsible for problems in long-term care, according to a paper recently published by the Paragon Institute.
Medicare spending expected to top $1 trillion this year, CMS says
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
Jun 15, 2023
says
Medicare expenditures are expected to exceed $1 trillion despite the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency this year, the associated expirations of the skilled nursing facility three-day stay...
Temperature extremes tied to higher rates of Missed primary care appointments
Jul 25, 2024
Increased rates of missed appointments were seen for temperatures 89 degrees F.