Staff COVID-19 vaccinations have risen 25 percentage points under CMS mandate
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
May 18, 2022
COVID-19 vaccination rates among nursing home staff jumped 25 percentage points nationally thanks in no small part to a CMS mandate imposed earlier this year.
National health spending could hit $6.8 trillion by 2030, CMS predicts
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
Mar 29, 2022
National health spending should grow 4.2% for 2021, reaching nearly $4.3 trillion, according to estimates released Monday by the Office of the Actuary at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. National...
OIG wants $1.9 million, more oversight from New York for Medicaid assisted living program
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
Mar 18, 2022
The state of New York should reimburse the federal Medicaid program $1.9 million and strengthen oversight of its Medicaid assisted living program, the U.S. Health and Human Services Department’s Office...
Medi-Cal to drop asset test for Medicaid long-term care benefits
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
Mar 14, 2022
Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid public health insurance program, is dropping its asset test for residents needing long-term care.
SNF occupancy continued slow recovery through December, NIC says
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
Mar 08, 2022
Skilled nursing facility occupancy in December 2021 hit its highest level since May 2020, according to data released Thursday by the NIC Skilled Nursing Data Initiative.
Healthcare-related False Claims Act settlements, judgments top $5 billion
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
Feb 03, 2022
Healthcare industry-related settlements and judgments from civil cases involving fraud and false claims uncovered by the Department of Justice in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2021, topped $5 billion,...
Wisconsin commits $500M for reimbursements to nursing homes, also increases HCBS reimbursement
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
Jan 13, 2022
Wisconsin will commit more than $500 million for payments and incentives to nursing homes by increasing reimbursement rates, Gov. Tony Evers (D) said Tuesday.
Nursing home owner faces 10 felony counts for Medicaid or tax fraud
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
Dec 22, 2021
The owner of a national nursing home chain is in hot water in Arkansas, where he faces eight counts of Medicaid fraud and two tax fraud counts. If convicted on any of the charges — all of which are felonies...
Biden administration asks Supreme Court for stay from injunctions against CMS vaccine mandate
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
Dec 20, 2021
As lawsuits mount from multiple states, the Biden administration asked the Supreme Court Thursday to reinstate nationwide the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ emergency regulation mandating...
Skilled nursing occupancy increases are beginning to slow: NIC report
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
Nov 12, 2021
Although skilled nursing occupancy increased for seven consecutive, NIC MAP data reported a slowdown in August in its November skilled nursing monthly report.