Assisted living needs to be part of enhanced Medicaid HCBS program, industry advocates say
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Jan 30, 2023
A proposal calling for permanent enhanced federal funding to states to expand the Medicaid home- and community-based services program needs to go a step further to emphasize the benefits of assisted living,...
Providers concerned about meeting direct care worker wage increase requirements
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Sep 22, 2022
A planned $15 hourly minimum wage requirement for home- and community-based service workers set to take effect Oct. 1 in Florida has some senior living providers concerned about how they will cover the...
Report outlines ways to get more HCBS support
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Sep 20, 2022
Assisted living providers can glean best practices from a report outlining state efforts to support home- and community-based service workers using federal COVID-19 relief dollars, according to one of...
HCBS bill provides ‘sorely needed’ solutions to care choice, workforce issues
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Mar 10, 2023
A new bill seeking to expand and permanently fund home- and community-based service programs — including those provided in assisted living — is “exactly what’s needed” to begin to solve the...
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...
CMS’ HCBS access rule adds burdens, industry says
By
Lois A. Bowers
Aug 09, 2023
Compensation spending requirement, quality measures are the focus of comments that groups submitted to the federal government.
Worker shortages, waiting list inaccuracies complicate HCBS programs
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Nov 30, 2022
The COVID-19 pandemic put a spotlight on fundamental, long-term challenges for state Medicaid home- and community-based services programs, but it also provided opportunities for change, according to a...
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...
CMS throws down ultimatum on HCBS settings final rule compliance
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Nov 29, 2022
The federal government is giving states and providers an ultimatum to make progress on meeting the requirements of the home- and community-based services settings final rule that goes into effect in the...
Minimum staffing requirements good idea in theory only: AHCA/NCAL
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
Jul 13, 2023
A federal nursing home minimum staffing mandate “sounds like a good idea, but in practice, it is not,” American Health Care Association / National Center for Assisted Living President and CEO Mark...