New law tackles assisted living workforce, regulatory challenges
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
May 09, 2023
A new state law will strengthen senior living providers’ ability to hire more caregivers and provide high-quality care, industry advocates say.
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...
Business briefs, March 27
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
Mar 27, 2023
Bill closes ‘loophole’ in provider background checks … USCIS lifts COVID-related flexibilities … Biden’s budget would strengthen Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, HCBS, senator says … ORA...
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,...
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...
Senior living providers navigate PHE unwinding, state-level guidelines
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
May 15, 2023
The May 11 expiration of the federal public health emergency declaration will bring changes to federal healthcare programs, with various regulatory flexibilities expiring immediately or within a short...
HCBS providers face more serious challenges ahead than institutional providers: report
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Sep 21, 2022
Expanding the availability and quality of long-term services and supports will continue to be a focus for policymakers as individual preferences and state requirements shift from institutional settings...
HCBS assisted living waiver on tap for ‘significant and historic’ investments
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Oct 19, 2023
Revisions to dozens of rules for state home- and community-based waivers, including the assisted living waiver, are earning support from Ohio’s senior living advocates.
Assisted living closures prompt states to increase Medicaid HCBS rates to stifle workforce shortages
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Oct 26, 2023
More than half of the states have increased payment rates for Medicaid home- and community-based services to address workforce challenges after assisted living communities closed, according to new data...
Proposed federal quality measures could exacerbate providers’ financial woes, groups warn
By
Lois A. Bowers
Jul 07, 2023
Quality measures that are part of a proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have the potential to burden assisted living providers financially and administratively, industry advocates...