Policy initiatives underway to lessen direct care workforce shortages
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Apr 29, 2024
Direct care workforce shortages strain the healthcare system overall and affect access, quality and costs. Although no single answer to the issue exists, several policy initiatives and solutions underway...
Final Medicaid Access Rule released, White House says
By
Lois A. Bowers
Apr 22, 2024
A federal rule requiring providers to allocate at least 80% of home- and community-based payments to direct care worker pay has been finalized, President Biden said in a fact sheet posted Monday on the...
Medicaid Access Rule review completed by White House
By
Lois A. Bowers
Apr 16, 2024
A proposed federal rule establishing mandatory quality measures for home- and community-based services and requiring providers to allocate 80% of HCBS payments to direct care worker pay is one step closer...
HCBS access rule heads to final review amid senior living industry concerns
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Jan 31, 2024
A proposed federal rule establishing mandatory quality measures for home- and community-based services and requiring providers to allocate 80% of HCBS payments to direct care worker pay now is under final...
Assisted living supply increasing, but access remains a challenge for most older adults: AARP
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Sep 29, 2023
Three years after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the nation, major gaps in care for older adults and people with disabilities persist, particularly in attracting and retaining the long-term care workforce and...
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.
Providers need funding to improve Medicaid HCBS access, quality, advocates say
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
May 01, 2023
Senior living advocates are applauding steps announced by the federal government to ensure equitable access to home- and community-based services provided via the Medicaid program, but they say that funding...
Better wages, working conditions key to attracting more workers to HCBS settings
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Apr 21, 2023
The size of the home- and community-based services workforce has not kept pace with expanding numbers of Medicaid program participants, according to a new study whose authors contend that better pay and...
Federal efforts to strengthen care economy fall short for senior living, advocates say
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Apr 19, 2023
President Biden’s executive order on strengthening the care economy, although well-intentioned, does not offer adequate solutions for long-term care in part because it does not support assisted living...