This special issue of the Elder Justice Newsletter takes a close look at what "Special Focus Facility" status - the status given the worst performing nursing homes - really signals for residents and families, and why repeated deficiencies in these … [Read more...] about Elder Justice “No Harm” Newsletter Volume 7 Issue 6 Now Available
Quality of Care
Private Equity Purchase of Nursing Homes Leads to Decline in Staffing & Quality of Care
In the fourth report in its series on Florida’s Nursing Home System, AARP Florida finds that between 2019 and 2024, 425 nursing homes changed ownership, including 156 facilities that were acquired by private equity. In Change of Ownership and Quality … [Read more...] about Private Equity Purchase of Nursing Homes Leads to Decline in Staffing & Quality of Care
Dangerous, Expensive Risks for Falls Identified in Skilled Nursing Facility Assessments
A recent CMA Alert discussed a recent report by the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) finding that skilled nursing facilities fail to report 43% of residents’ falls in a 1-year period reviewed by OIG. In an accompanying Data Snapshot, Serious … [Read more...] about Dangerous, Expensive Risks for Falls Identified in Skilled Nursing Facility Assessments
Information Requested on “Corporate Greed in Health Care”
The Federal Trade Commission and the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services have “launched a cross-government public inquiry into private-equity and other corporations’ increasing control over health care.” They held a joint virtual … [Read more...] about Information Requested on “Corporate Greed in Health Care”
Study Examines Health Equity Differences between Medicare and Medicare Advantage
A recent Health Affairs study, Gaps In Quality Of Care Not Consistent Between Traditional Medicare, Medicare Advantage For Racial And Ethnic Groups, examined gaps in quality of care when comparing traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage for … [Read more...] about Study Examines Health Equity Differences between Medicare and Medicare Advantage
CMS Must Strengthen Federal Criteria for Certifying Nursing Homes for Medicare and Medicaid Reimbursement
One of the best predictors of quality is past performance. If an operator provides poor care in its facilities, it is likely to provide poor care in any additional facilities that it may purchase or operate. As a result, one of the most effective … [Read more...] about CMS Must Strengthen Federal Criteria for Certifying Nursing Homes for Medicare and Medicaid Reimbursement
Sufficient Nursing Facility Staffing Saves Lives, Insufficient Staffing Harms and Kills
4.1 Hours of Nursing Care Per Resident Day Are the Bare MinimumAnalyses of nurse staffing levels at nursing facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic find – what all studies of staffing have consistently found for decades – higher staffing levels … [Read more...] about Sufficient Nursing Facility Staffing Saves Lives, Insufficient Staffing Harms and Kills
CMS to Review Five Medicare Claims from Each Skilled Nursing Facility
The Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) program projects an improper Medicare Part A payment rate to skilled nursing facilities (SNF) of 15.1% in 2022, nearly double the 7.79% improper payment rate in 2021, and the highest improper payment rate … [Read more...] about CMS to Review Five Medicare Claims from Each Skilled Nursing Facility
CMS Report Highlights Quality of Care Concerns in MA
A recent report released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Office of Minority Health, Disparities in Health Care in Medicare Advantage Associated with Dual Eligibility or Eligibility for a Low-Income Subsidy and Disability, … [Read more...] about CMS Report Highlights Quality of Care Concerns in MA
Gaps in Hospice Abuse and Neglect Reporting
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently reviewed requirements for reporting abuse and neglect allegations to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). GAO concluded gaps existed in requirements for hospices as compared … [Read more...] about Gaps in Hospice Abuse and Neglect Reporting