Elevated Medicaid use no threat to health insurers in the long term: Fitch
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
Jun 27, 2024
Headwinds from an increase in the use of Medicaid are unlikely to have a long-term negative effect on health insurers, according to a new brief from Fitch Ratings. Insurers may experience short-term margin...
CMS to conduct ‘focused review’ of Missouri, Texas delays in processing Medicaid applications
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
Jun 20, 2024
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is launching a focused review of how the states of Missouri and Texas process Medicaid applications.
CMS updates spousal impoverishment standards
By
Lois A. Bowers
May 22, 2024
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Wednesday announced updated 2024 spousal impoverishment standards, which apply when married individuals seek coverage of certain long-term services and supports...
Bill aims to prevent Medicaid Access Rule implementation
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Apr 29, 2024
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services would be prohibited from implementing the Medicaid Access Rule under a bill introduced last week in the House of Representatives.
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...
Federal final rule drops bring cries of ‘flawed,’ ‘aggressive,’ ‘dramatic’ from senior living...
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Apr 25, 2024
Late April brought a shower of regulatory changes as the federal government dropped four major final rules this week that the senior living and care industry is calling “flawed,” “aggressive” and...
Medicaid Access Rule shortcomings could decrease access to care, industry advocates say
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Apr 23, 2024
No guarantee exists that a final rule that the federal government promoted as increasing transparency in Medicaid payments and improving wages for direct care workers will accomplish either goal, senior...
Business briefs, April 23
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
Apr 23, 2024
Nursing home staffing mandate final rule released; industry reacts … CMS releases final Medicaid Access Rule; home care and senior living groups respond. … WHO to host long-term care webinar May 8...
2011 to 2020 saw increase in annual prescription meds expenditures
Apr 15, 2024
Metabolic agents were the most costly category; antidiabetic agents were the mostly costly therapeutic area.
CMS changes quality measure set for home- and community-based services
By
Lois A. Bowers
Apr 15, 2024
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced changes to the quality measure set for home- and community-based services and described reporting requirements for Money Follows the Person grant...