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...
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...
Advocacy groups release blueprint to improve HCBS, aging services workforce
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Apr 05, 2023
Strategies on how to improve Ohio’s overall system of home- and community-based services, including assisted living, and the aging services workforce are highlights of a blueprint released by a coalition...
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...