CMS adjusts HCBS final rule implementation, but industry seeks more time
By
Lois A. Bowers
May 26, 2022
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced some adjustments regarding the implementation of its home- and community-based services final rule this week, but senior living industry association...
Low COVID-19 vaccination rates among Medicaid beneficiaries cause for concern: senators
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Mar 29, 2022
Concern over lagging vaccination rates among Medicaid beneficiaries has prompted two Democratic leaders to request a study from the Government Accountability Office on potential barriers to vaccination.
States don’t wait as fate of federal COVID vaccine mandates remains uncertain
By
Lois A. Bowers
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Jan 10, 2022
As employers wait to see whether the Supreme Court will issue stays against federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid...
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments about two federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates on Jan. 7, the court announced Wednesday night.
Vaccination, labor availability ‘critical’ to restoring occupancy, performance: Omega
By
Lois A. Bowers
Nov 08, 2021
The rollout of COVID-19 vaccines has helped stem the spread and adverse effects of the coronavirus pandemic, but senior living operators continue to battle with increasing costs driven by the scarcity...
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...
What’s better for senior living and care — the market or government?
By
Stephen A. Moses
Oct 25, 2021
By most measures, the more market-based independent and assisted living sectors fare better economically over time than the more government-dependent sectors. Why?
Should Medicaid protect $8 trillion from private senior living costs?
By
Stephen A. Moses
Aug 09, 2021
By enforcing and publicizing Medicaid estate recoveries throughout the country, we can encourage private long-term care financing, reduce dependency on Medicaid, and improve access and quality of care...
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...
MedPAC recommendations could deal a blow to vulnerable partial dual eligibles
By
Diane Eastabrook
Jun 18, 2021
The most vulnerable people could be adversely affected by the Medicare Payment Advisory Committee’s (MedPac) recent recommendation to change the benchmark policy for growing Medicare Advantage (MA) plans....