Medicaid Access Rule shortcomings could decrease access to care, industry advocates say
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Apr 23, 2024
No guarantee exists that a final rule that the federal government promoted as increasing transparency in Medicaid payments and improving wages for direct care workers will accomplish either goal, senior...
Expand HCBS access to address unmet care needs of older adults, researchers say
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Dec 06, 2023
Expanding access to home- and community-based services is the recommendation from a new report from the Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis on unmet care needs among the nation’s older adults.
Lawmakers pump brakes on proposed HCBS funding boost
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Apr 17, 2024
Senior living providers in Wisconsin are asking lawmakers to act on a proposal to take advantage of a “once-in-a-lifetime” funding opportunity for its Medicaid home- and community-based services programs.
Federal final rule drops bring cries of ‘flawed,’ ‘aggressive,’ ‘dramatic’ from senior living...
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Apr 25, 2024
Late April brought a shower of regulatory changes as the federal government dropped four major final rules this week that the senior living and care industry is calling “flawed,” “aggressive” and...
Federal bill would send more funds to states to stabilize HCBS in assisted living and other settings
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Oct 25, 2023
A proposed federal bill aims to stabilize home- and community-based services, potentially including those provided in assisted living communities, by dedicating Medicaid funds to states to support their...
HCBS access rule heads to final review amid senior living industry concerns
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Jan 31, 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 now is under final...
HCBS gap analysis should avoid ‘Hunger Games’ scenario, expert says
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Dec 01, 2023
As the state of New Hampshire embarks on a gap analysis of its home- and community-based services system, one senior living organization leader is cautioning against a “Hunger Games” scenario that...
HCBS class-action lawsuit could be catalyst for elevating assisted living’s role in providing services
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Dec 05, 2023
Certification of a class-action lawsuit against New Hampshire’s home- and community-based services waiver program could be the catalyst for elevating assisted living as a viable Medicaid option, according...
Assisted living providers must pay attention to Medicaid beneficiary protections in HCBS regulations,...
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Oct 13, 2023
Assisted living providers might be breaking state and federal laws in refusing to accept Medicaid or in attempting to evict residents without giving them an opportunity to appeal, according to two elder...
HHS seeks input from providers to inform HCBS policy development
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Oct 17, 2023
Providers of home- and community-based services in assisted living communities and other settings are being asked to contribute input during the federal government’s review of its evidence map.