Proposed Legislation Protects Medicare Providers Against Lawsuits

A bipartisan bill introduced by two members of the House of Representatives seeks to reduce malpractice risk against Medicare and Medicaid providers—a move that intends to lower healthcare costs  and improve patient care. H.R. 4106, colloquially known as the “Saving Lives, Saving Costs Act,” is a joint effort between Reps. Andy Barr (R-KY) and Ami […]

Court Rules in Favor of Sunrise, Says NJ Resident Can’t Sue

Assisted living residents in New Jersey cannot use an existing state law that protects nursing home residents to file suit against providers, a federal court recently ruled. The case Andreyko v. Sunrise Senior Living Inc. (No. 12-7240) ruled that the New Jersey Nursing Home Responsibilities & Rights Act (NHRRRA) does not cover assisted living communities […]

California Lawmakers Propose 12 Senior Living Reform Measures

Lawmakers have proposed a package of bills meant to reform California’s assisted living industry after an investigative series revealed what the UT-San Diego termed “inadequate supervision and other problems” at several communities. Senators Marty Block, Ellen Corbett, Mark Leno, and Assembly Members Toni G. Atkins, Susan Talamantes Eggman, Nancy Skinner and Mariko Yamada are among […]

California Lawmakers to Look Closely at Assisted Living in Upcoming Hearings

California lawmakers will hold hearings in February to examine assisted living providers in the state, following a San Diego Union-Tribune report outlining problems with assisted living homes.  The publication worked with the California Healthcare Foundation Center for Health Reporting at the University of Southern California on the investigations cited in the reports, which included two […]

States Updating Assisted Living Regulations as Industry Evolves

Because assisted living is regulated on the state level, there are multiple efforts under way at any given time to update and refresh assisted living rules and regulations. Even when legislators are not in session, they are still making progress on aligning regulations with the changing needs of assisted living residents. “States, usually on an […]

After Brookdale Tragedy, CPR Bill Reaches California Governor’s Desk

A bill that would forbid employers from having policies against lifesaving measures has reached the desk of California Governor Jerry Brown after passing both houses of the state’s Legislature. Sponsored by Sen. Norma Torres (D-Pamona), AB633 aims to protect employees who perform lifesaving procedures during emergencies. The bill is a response to the death of […]

New State Law Mandates Memory Care Training in All Nursing Homes

Memory care training in Massachusetts nursing homes is becoming more stringent for the communities that advertise specialized care for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.  Under new rules currently being reviewed by state regulators, those who advertise memory care in the state will be required to provide at least eight hours of initial training for care staff […]