CCRC, Nursing Home Health Care Spend Increases 5.6% in 2022

Health care spending in the U.S. grew by 4.1% in 2022 and reached $4.5 trillion, with continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) and nursing homes reporting slightly lower health expenditures over the same time period, according to a study published Wednesday by Office of the Actuary at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).  In […]

Memory Care Gap: GAO Report Shows Less than 2.5% of Medicare Beneficiaries with Alzheimer’s Receive Cognitive Assessment 

Between 2018 and last year, use of cognitive assessment and care plan services tripled , but few Medicare beneficiaries who qualify received the service, according to a recent study by the Government Accountability Office (GAO).  The GAO study found that, at most, 2.4% of Medicare beneficiaries with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or a related […]

CCRC Spending to Rise Steadily Through 2026

The total amount of money Americans will spend on health care at continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) and skilled nursing facilities is projected to increase at a steady pace over the next decade, according to a new report from the Office of the Actuary at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). In 2013, Americans […]

Federal Watchdog Criticizes Gaps in Assisted Living Regulations

There are major gaps in the regulation of assisted living communities nationwide, and steps should be taken at the federal level to ensure they’re swiftly and properly addressed, according to a recently published report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). The report, titled “Improved Federal Oversight of Beneficiary Health and Welfare is Needed,” came […]

CMS Bans Arbitration Agreements in Long-Term Care

In one fell swoop, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has squashed the controversial use of pre-dispute arbitration agreements in long-term care. The move was announced Wednesday, when CMS issued a new final rule governing the nation’s long-term care facilities. The new rule, which marks the first comprehensive update CMS has made regarding […]

CareSouth Beefs Up Senior Living Services to Coincide with $170 Million Acquisition

Alongside its $170 million acquisition by HealthSouth Corporation (NYSE: HLS), CareSouth Health System has announced its plan to retain its Health at Home partnership and rename its Senior Living Services division to further focus on such communities. As part of the acquisition, national home health, post-acute and senior living services provider CareSouth’s home health, hospice, private duty […]

Pioneer ACO Expansion Ahead Following $384 Million Savings

The Pioneer Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Model generated over $384 million in savings to Medicare over its first two years, giving cause to expansion of the patient care model to a larger population of Medicare beneficiaries.  The savings to Medicare, an average of approximately $300 per participating beneficiary per year, were released by the Department of Health […]

CMS Proposes 1.4% Payment Boost for SNFs in 2016

Skilled nursing facilities stand to see Medicare reimbursements increase by 1.4% in fiscal year 2016, under the proposed payment rate announced today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. That would be an overall $500 million increase from fiscal year 2015, CMS noted. The 1.4% figure comes from a market basket increase of 2.6%, […]