News of HHS, CMS nominees gets warm reception from senior living groups
By
Lois A. Bowers
Nov 29, 2016
Organizations representing senior living providers said Tuesday that they look forward to working with President-elect Donald J. Trump’s choices to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services...
$25 million expansion adds 5 states and territories to Money Follows the Person program for HCBS
By
Lois A. Bowers
Aug 22, 2022
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, will award up to $5 million each to Illinois, Kansas and New Hampshire, as well as for American Samoa...
COVID-19 public health emergency extended again, maybe for the last time
By
Lois A. Bowers
Jan 11, 2023
The public health emergency due to COVID-19 has been renewed again for what many experts believe will be the last time.
GOP lawmakers say they will seek Medicare, Medicaid changes next year
By
Lois A. Bowers
Dec 08, 2017
While Republicans in the Senate and House of Representatives work to reconcile their two versions of a tax reform bill that analysts say could add more than $1 trillion to the federal deficit over 10 years,...
AHCA/NCAL asks HHS to extend COVID-19 public health emergency past Jan. 11
By
Lois A. Bowers
Nov 03, 2022
The COVID-19 public health emergency should be extended past Jan. 11 “so that long-term and post-acute care providers can continue to offer the most efficient and effective care possible and so our nation’s...
CMS may extend deadline for state compliance with HCBS final rule
By
Lois A. Bowers
Mar 15, 2017
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will work to provide states with additional time to comply with a final rule regarding the provision of home- and community-based services to Medicaid beneficiaries,...
House tax bill foes decry potential effects on seniors’ medical costs, housing
By
Lois A. Bowers
Nov 10, 2017
Advocates for senior living and affordable housing have expressed opposition to H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, proposed by Republicans in the House of Representatives, because it eliminates the medical...
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,...
Dollars spent on HCBS go further than those spent on nursing homes, study finds
By
Lois A. Bowers
Jun 29, 2023
Older adults are not “drawn out of the woodwork” to try to qualify for Medicaid benefits when a state expands home- and community-based services, according to the findings of a new study.
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...