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...
Increased regulation, active adult, Medicaid HCBS top list of trends predicted for senior living in 2024
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Dec 13, 2023
Heightened state regulation, dementia care support, the rise of active adult communities and the increased provision of home- and community-based services to Medicaid beneficiaries are among the top trends...
CMS changes quality measure set for home- and community-based services
By
Lois A. Bowers
Apr 15, 2024
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced changes to the quality measure set for home- and community-based services and described reporting requirements for Money Follows the Person grant...
Federal government boosts support of HCBS, releases worker registry guidance
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
Dec 13, 2023
When the American Rescue Plan Act was passed in 2021, home- and community-based services were estimated to receive $12 billion. Now, $37 billion is now being used for HCBS across the country in all 50...
Senior living operator’s 4-day work week pilot results in significant jump in job applications
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Feb 02, 2023
When two Wisconsin senior living communities announced that they were participating in a four-day work week pilot, job applications jumped significantly and jobs that had been open for an extended period...
Assisted living cheers CMS guidance to continue HCBS flexibilities adopted during pandemic
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Aug 04, 2023
Updated guidance released Wednesday by the federal government will extend state home- and community-based waivers that had been implemented during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The move has care,...
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...
OAA update includes ‘disappointing’ language that could burden providers, group says
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Feb 09, 2024
Some provisions in the most comprehensive update to the Older Americans Act in 36 years raise concerns about potentially stifling innovation and creating undue burdens on service providers, according to...
Bill would end federal mandate for states to recoup Medicaid costs for HCBS, care
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Apr 16, 2024
A proposed bill would end a mandate that states try to recoup costs for long-term care provided to Medicaid beneficiaries, including by seizing homes from disproportionately poor and minority families,...
11 states ready to go live with Medicaid HCBS final rule as deadline approaches, CMS says
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Feb 22, 2023
Eleven states are planning to go live under the regulations of the home- and community-based settings final rule on March 18, according to Melissa Harris, deputy director for the CMS Disabled and Elderly...