Provider groups decry ‘chronic underfunding’ as CMS introduces HCBS quality measures
By
Lois A. Bowers
Jul 22, 2022
The federal government’s introduction Thursday of quality measures for the home- and community-based services offered by assisted living and other providers comes in the midst of “longstanding, chronic...
OSHA accepting new comments on healthcare worker COVID-19 protection rule
By
Lois A. Bowers
Mar 23, 2022
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is accepting additional comments as it works to establish a final rule meant to protect assisted living and other healthcare workers from exposure to COVID-19...
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...
$3 billion addition to Provider Relief Fund ‘falls woefully short,’ provider groups say
By
Lois A. Bowers
Dec 22, 2020
A $900 billion COVID-19 relief bill is on its way to the president’s desk after being passed by both houses of Congress by late Monday. Trade associations representing senior living operators, however,...
‘Misleading’ report tied to federal bill with COVID-19-related requirements for assisted living,...
By
Lois A. Bowers
Jul 06, 2020
Assisted living communities would be required to report confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 to federal, state and local health officials, as well as to residents and their families — and would have...
63 percent of long-term care providers wait up to 4 days for COVID-19 test results
By
Lois A. Bowers
Jul 02, 2020
Eighty-seven percent of assisted living communities and nursing homes participating in a new survey said it is taking two or more days for them to obtain the results of COVID-19 tests of staff members....
Federal effort ‘important first step’ but ‘far short’ of what’s needed to protect seniors against...
By
Lois A. Bowers
May 01, 2020
President Trump’s remark Thursday that seniors are being taken “very special care of” is “false,” and federal government efforts “far short of what’s needed to protect the most vulnerable...
HHS, states should support senior living through $955 million in CARES Act grants announced Tuesday,...
By
Lois A. Bowers
Apr 22, 2020
Senior living deserves part of the $955 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act grants announced Tuesday by the Department of Health and Human Services, National Center for Assisted...
Frontline workers must be priority for COVID-19 resources, groups say; Juniper to test all residents,...
By
Lois A. Bowers
Apr 03, 2020
The safety and well-being of frontline workers in senior living and skilled nursing must be prioritized in order to ensure that older adults receive the care they need and that the spread of COVID-19 is...
Medicaid block grants will help address ‘looming cost crisis’ due to aging population, CMS says
By
Lois A. Bowers
Jan 31, 2020
The Medicaid block grant program announced Thursday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services won’t directly affect elderly and disabled beneficiaries, CMS Administrative Seema Verma said, but...