CMS issues new guidance on HCBS final rule, but provider concerns remain
By
Lois A. Bowers
Mar 25, 2019
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Friday issued new guidance meant to clarify where Medicaid beneficiaries can receive home- and community-based services as defined in a 2014 regulation,...
Reporting COVID vaccination data to CMS would be ‘burdensome,’ ‘redundant’ for assisted living,...
By
Lois A. Bowers
Jul 14, 2021
Requiring assisted living providers to report weekly COVID-19 vaccination data to the federal government would add administrative and cost burdens to operators already challenged by the pandemic and even...
CMS gives states 3 more years to comply with HCBS final rule
By
Lois A. Bowers
May 09, 2017
States will have until 2022 to comply with a final rule regarding the provision of home- and community-based services to Medicaid beneficiaries, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced Tuesday.
‘A lot on the line in November,’ NCAL executive director says
By
Lois A. Bowers
Oct 08, 2018
The outcome of the midterm elections Nov. 6 will determine whether assisted living operators will have another fight for Medicaid on their hands, National Center for Assisted Living Executive Director...
Relief, concern greet tax bill passage
By
Lois A. Bowers
Dec 21, 2017
Senior living provider groups Wednesday expressed a mixture of relief and concern at Congress’ passage of H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
Senate healthcare bill would ‘ruin Medicaid as we know it’
By
Lois A. Bowers
Jun 22, 2017
As Senate Republicans released a “discussion draft” of their plan to replace the Affordable Care Act on Thursday, advocacy organizations in senior living expressed concerns about the legislation’s...
Provider groups decry ‘chronic underfunding’ as CMS introduces HCBS quality measures
By
Lois A. Bowers
Jul 22, 2022
The federal government’s introduction Thursday of quality measures for the home- and community-based services offered by assisted living and other providers comes in the midst of “longstanding, chronic...
CMS’ spending requirement in HCBS rule ‘not the right approach,’ senior living advocates say
By
Lois A. Bowers
Jul 06, 2023
A proposal that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services says is meant to “support and stabilize the direct care workforce” in home- and community-based settings, if it becomes final, ultimately...
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 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...