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...
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...
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...
CMS issues guidance to states on how to use enhanced Medicaid HCBS funding from stimulus package
By
Liza Berger
May 14, 2021
States can only use enhanced Medicaid funds from the recently passed $1.9 trillion economic stimulus package to strengthen their home- and community-based services, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid...
Florida assisted living communities challenged by staffing, Medicaid, study confirms
By
Lois A. Bowers
Apr 16, 2019
Staffing and Medicaid reimbursement were two pressing issues for operators that emerged from a recent survey commissioned by the Florida Assisted Living Association, the organization’s CEO, Shaddrick...
ACA replacement would harm providers, caregivers, elderly, groups say
By
Lois A. Bowers
Mar 07, 2017
Long-term services and supports providers, Medicaid beneficiaries and professional caregivers would suffer if the bill that Republicans in the House of Representatives proposed Monday to replace the Affordable...
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...
Nevada Personal Care Association sounds alarm bell as home care oversight bill moves closer to passage
By
Diane Eastabrook
May 21, 2021
On Wednesday, Nevada moved a step closer to creating a home care standards board that the Personal Care Association of Nevada (PCAN) fears could put undue burden on the state’s home care industry.
New York home care providers say not so fast on legislation that would raise workers’ wages
By
Joe Jancsurak
Mar 22, 2021
New state Senate legislation that would raise home care workers’ wages does not provide sufficient funding for employers to cover that increase, the Home Care Association of New York told McKnight’s...
Advocates for seniors identify their top issues for Trump administration
By
Lois A. Bowers
Jan 22, 2017
Medicaid, home- and community-based services, long-term services and supports, the elder care workforce and Medicare are among the important areas that President Donald Trump and members of Congress should...