Assisted living rises to top of LTSS continuum with its lower cost, higher workforce levels
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Jul 10, 2024
Although the long-term services and supports sector faces several challenges to meet the needs of a rapidly increasing older adult population, assisted living’s low cost and gains in workforce levels...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Bill would end federal mandate for states to recoup Medicaid costs for HCBS, care
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Apr 16, 2024
A proposed bill would end a mandate that states try to recoup costs for long-term care provided to Medicaid beneficiaries, including by seizing homes from disproportionately poor and minority families,...
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...
CMS proposes ‘universal’ quality measures to ease provider burden, confusion
By
Lois A. Bowers
Feb 06, 2023
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services leaders are proposing the creation of a “universal foundation” of quality measures to reduce the reporting burden and confusion for providers and better align...
CMS releases first-ever quality measures for home- and community-based services
By
Lois A. Bowers
Jul 21, 2022
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Thursday released its first-ever home- and community-based services quality measure set in an effort to promote consistent quality measurement within and...