Skilled nursing operators and other post-acute providers can look forward to more stable reimbursements in the future, thanks to the historic passage of a bill to change how Medicare sets payment rates. The Senate approved H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA,) late Tuesday in a 92-8 vote, and President Barack Obama […]
Category: Legislation
Long-term care facilities participating in Medicare and Medicaid may soon be required to recognize the rights of same-sex spouses regardless if their state has validated the marriage, according to a recently proposed rule by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). “These revisions would promote equality and ensure the recognition of the validity of same-sex […]
The Assisted Living Federation of America, on the heels of a rebranding effort that will create the “New ALFA,” has named a new president and CEO. Effective mid-January, the association will be led by new President and CEO James Balda, who has held many association management positions, including his role most recently as senior vice […]
The state of California approved nine new rules for senior housing facilities aimed at protecting the health and safety of residents. California Gov. Jerry Brown approved the nine bills Sunday. The legislation is meant to “protect the health and safety of seniors residing in assisted living facilities across the state, according to a written statement […]
Proposed legislation is gaining traction on Capitol Hill that would allow states to create Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) for seniors in continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) with existing Medicare and Medicaid coverage. Congressmen Joe Barton (R-Tex.) and Ralph Hall (R-Tex.) recently signed on as cosponsors of the proposed bill, HR 2376 or the Medicare Residential Care […]
This summer, a dispute over social media posts began brewing at a Silverado Senior Living community in Sugar Land, Texas, and left some family members unable to visit their mother, a resident. A civil rights lawsuit filed in federal court in Houston on July 29 by children Mackey Glen Peterson, Don Leslie Peterson and Lonny […]
Maine seniors, along with affordable housing, home care, general contractors and other aging services stakeholders are rallying around a comprehensive package of proposals that aim to strengthen the state’s aging in place resources that go beyond traditional assisted living and nursing homes. Mark Eves (D-North Berwick), speaker of Maine’s House of Representatives, last week unveiled […]
Three bills that would have increased regulatory oversight of assisted living communities in California, along with creating a more detailed consumer database on every licensed facility in the state, have all failed to advance in the state’s Legislature. Of the 16 bills on the table for California’s Senate Appropriations Committee, only two have made it […]
Criminal background checks are woven into the fabric of senior housing employment practices: They ensure caregivers are fit for their positions, and ultimately protect the vulnerable resident population. But changes in the regulatory landscape may require some operators to adjust their hiring procedures. For most senior housing types, operators are required by federal and state […]
The 2015 skilled nursing facility prospective payment system (SNF PPS) will receive a boost in Medicare reimbursement, to the tune of an estimated $750 million in aggregate payments, according to The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) final rule on Medicare payments for skilled nursing. The 2% Medicare rate increase in reimbursements represents a higher payment update factor […]