Medicaid HCBS study shows ‘we still know very little’ about COVID in senior living
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Jan 17, 2023
A new study reporting higher mortality rates among Medicaid home- and community-based services recipients — including assisted living residents — during the pandemic compared with people not receiving...
1.65 million Medicaid beneficiaries receive HCBS through waivers like those used in assisted living
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Aug 30, 2022
A total of 1.65 million Medicaid beneficiaries received home- and community-based services through section 1915(c) waiver programs in 2019, according to a report released Friday by the Centers for Medicare...
ARPA-funded projects aim to collect data on assisted living, help retain workers
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Feb 02, 2023
Efforts to track data on assisted living communities, retain workers and encourage planning for long-term care are among the projects receiving technical assistance from a national nonprofit to launch...
Assisted living could provide new options for states focused on expanding HCBS access, quality: report
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Dec 01, 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic shed light on home- and community-based services needs for older adults, leading to the introduction of several federal proposals for significant policy changes and funding. But addressing...
Updated: CMS proposes mandatory quality measures, other changes to HCBS program
By
Lois A. Bowers
Apr 27, 2023
Some quality measures for home- and community-based services would become mandatory under a proposed rule announced Thursday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Several other changes related...
Worker shortages, waiting list inaccuracies complicate HCBS programs
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Nov 30, 2022
The COVID-19 pandemic put a spotlight on fundamental, long-term challenges for state Medicaid home- and community-based services programs, but it also provided opportunities for change, according to a...
Last of Phase 4 Provider Relief Fund payments coming to a bank account near you
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Jul 28, 2022
One last round of Phase 4 Provider Relief Fund payments could be coming as soon as next week, signaling a completion of all payment determinations, according to Argentum.
Providers concerned about meeting direct care worker wage increase requirements
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Sep 22, 2022
A planned $15 hourly minimum wage requirement for home- and community-based service workers set to take effect Oct. 1 in Florida has some senior living providers concerned about how they will cover the...
Coming end of COVID-19 PHE brings concerns about senior living effects
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Feb 14, 2023
The May 11 end of the COVID-19 public health emergency — and the flexibilities it provided — means many potential changes for providers of Medicaid home- and community-based services. And those changes...
Workforce advisory council offers direct care workers voice in recruitment, retention efforts
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Feb 15, 2022
A first-of-its-kind advisory council is giving Maine’s assisted living community, nursing home and home health employees a voice in policy decisions affecting them.