Judge Preserves Long-Term Care Arbitration Agreements—For Now

Medicare-certified long-term care providers can continue to use arbitration agreements for the moment, thanks to a federal court ruling. Residents who sign arbitration agreements when they are admitted to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) waive their right to use the court system in the event a dispute arises, and instead go through private arbitration. Consumer advocacy […]

Lawsuit Takes on CMS Over Arbitration Ban in Long-Term Care

Skilled nursing providers concerned over the federal government’s ban on arbitration agreements now have at least one reason for hope. A newly filed lawsuit seeks to overturn the ban and asks a judge to delay enforcement pending the outcome of the case. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) overstepped its authority in banning […]

Editor’s Take: Senior Living at a Tipping Point

I was happy to hop on a plane for Palm Springs recently. I left behind a gray day in Chicago and landed in the oasis of blue skies, hazy peaks and shimmering water. Yet, the vibe there was not exactly serene; I would describe it as an atmosphere of excited anticipation. There might have been an obvious […]

How Congress Could Upend Senior Care Financing

Amid recent reports of patient harm and a lack of oversight within nursing homes, a new law could start holding nursing homes more accountable for low quality ratings. The Nursing Home Accountability Act, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Mark Walker (R-NC), aims to cut nursing homes with the lowest scorers from Department of Housing and Urban […]

Senior Housing Sticks Up for Controversial Contract Provisions

Several parties want the federal government to ban pre-dispute arbitration agreements in nursing home contracts, sparking pushback among those in the senior living industry who regard the documents as essential. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is currently considering regulations on how arbitration agreements are presented to nursing home residents upon admission, but […]

Movers & Shakers — People and Positions for May, Part III

Riderwood Appoints Jeff Kimbell as Director of Dining Services Silver Spring, Maryland-based Riderwood, a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) managed by Erickson Living, has appointed Jeff Kimbell as director of dining services. Kimbell brings more than 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry to this leadership position, 14 of which are with Erickson Living. He […]

MedPAC Wants Nursing Home Industry’s 1.8% Margin to be Smaller

Despite an overall profit margin of less than 2% in 2012, an advisory committee is doubling down on recommendations for Congress to cut Medicare reimbursements to the nursing home industry in the coming years. The total margin for the nursing home industry was 1.8% last year, according to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), not […]