Senate leader promises coronavirus relief this week as U.S. cases, deaths increase and senior living...
By
Lois A. Bowers
Mar 18, 2020
As coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spreads in the U.S. and senior living companies face increasing challenges, the Senate on Tuesday did not vote on a relief bill passed by the House. Senate Majority...
CMS issues reg requiring COVID-19 vaccination for long-term care workers
By
Lois A. Bowers
Nov 04, 2021
Long-term care and other healthcare facilities that participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs must develop COVID-19 vaccination policies for their workers by Dec. 5, and all eligible workers must...
Big senior living stories of 2019
By
Lois A. Bowers
Dec 23, 2019
Here’s a look at some of the news that occupied many minds in senior living over the past year.
Some Medicare Advantage organizations are denying or delaying services to beneficiaries covered under Medicare rules, according to a report issued Thursday by the Department of Health and Human Services...
Advocacy group urges CMS to grow Medicare dental plan coverage
By
Liza Berger
May 20, 2021
The Center for Medicare Advocacy is pushing the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and Congress to expand dental plan coverage under Medicare.
If Medicare adds more benefits, Medicare Advantage might feel need to do the same: public policy expert
By
Diane Eastabrook
Jul 15, 2021
As Senate Democrats quibble over what Medicare expansion might look like, home care observers are wondering what a larger program might mean for Medicare Advantage, which increasingly is insuring more...
COVID-19 long-haulers spur push for palliative care services
By
Diane Eastabrook
Apr 22, 2021
The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) is leading an effort for a demonstration project that would cover palliative care for older Americans under Medicare
Medicare Advantage I-SNPs expand to 160 Minnesota senior living communities
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Oct 14, 2020
Residents of 160 Twin Cities-area assisted living communities and skilled nursing facilities will have exclusive access to two new Medicare Advantage HMO institutional special needs plans, or I-SNPs, effective...
From transportation to housekeeping, MA plans moving further into the home in 2022
By
Diane Eastabrook
Oct 05, 2021
Medicare Advantage plans are moving more benefits into the home in 2022. In-home primary care, transportation, meals and in-home support are just a handful of new benefits private insurers are offering...
NAHC clears up confusion on face-to-face encounters, other questions stemming from COVID-19 statute
By
Joe Jancsurak
Mar 03, 2021
The National Association for Home Care & Hospice reports that it has received clarification from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding some discrepancies between Medicare regulations...