In response to coronavirus pandemic, the nursing home industry is seeking broad immunity from COVID-related harm. Through executive orders and state legislation, Governors and states are rapidly granting immunity to various health care … [Read more...] about New CMA Report – Nursing Home Industry Seeks Immunity During COVID Crisis; States Are Obliging
Skilled Nursing Facility
Case Study: Medicare Advantage and Repeated Coverage Denials Amid the COVID Crisis
Mr. A, is a retired professor from a state university. He was auto-enrolled in his state’s retiree Medicare Advantage (MA) plan. The plan prospectus states that it covers an unlimited number of days in a skilled nursing facility (SNF).An … [Read more...] about Case Study: Medicare Advantage and Repeated Coverage Denials Amid the COVID Crisis
CMA Special Report – Infection Control Surveys at Nursing Facilities: It Looks Like Business as Usual
When the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) suspended the regular survey system for nursing facilities during the COVID-19 crisis, it reported that, for a three-week prioritization period (beginning March 20) and since … [Read more...] about CMA Special Report – Infection Control Surveys at Nursing Facilities: It Looks Like Business as Usual
CMS to Require Transparency Regarding Coronavirus in Nursing Facilities
In guidance released Sunday evening, April 19, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that in two sets of future rulemaking, it will require nursing facilities to report information about suspected and confirmed cases … [Read more...] about CMS to Require Transparency Regarding Coronavirus in Nursing Facilities
Federal District Court in Arkansas Upholds Federal Rule Authorizing Arbitration Requirements in Nursing Home Contracts
In a summary judgment decision, Federal District Court Judge Timothy L. Brooks sustained regulations promulgated by the Trump Administration that permit pre-dispute arbitration agreements, with resident protections, which replaced the Obama … [Read more...] about Federal District Court in Arkansas Upholds Federal Rule Authorizing Arbitration Requirements in Nursing Home Contracts
COVID 19 and Skilled Nursing Facilities: When Deregulation is Deadly
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 15, 2020In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the federal agency than runs the nation’s Medicare program has waived longstanding resident protections and promised more money to nursing facilities. Congress has already … [Read more...] about COVID 19 and Skilled Nursing Facilities: When Deregulation is Deadly
CDC’s Report on Coronavirus in a Seattle Nursing Facility: What it Tells Us About Staffing Problems Nationwide; What We Must Do to Address Lessons Learned
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report for March 18, 2020 describes, as of March 9, coronavirus and the Life Care Center at Kirkland (Washington State): “Introduction of COVID-19 into a long-term … [Read more...] about CDC’s Report on Coronavirus in a Seattle Nursing Facility: What it Tells Us About Staffing Problems Nationwide; What We Must Do to Address Lessons Learned
Medicare Skilled Nursing Facility Coverage, Discharges, and Transfers During the COVID Crisis
Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs/nursing homes) often tell residents and families that they are discharging the resident because Medicare will no longer pay for the resident’s stay. In a previous Alert (Jan. 2016), the Center for Medicare Advocacy … [Read more...] about Medicare Skilled Nursing Facility Coverage, Discharges, and Transfers During the COVID Crisis
Hospitals Should Discharge Patients with Coronavirus Only to Qualified Nursing Homes
As the coronavirus pandemic continues, nursing facilities are being asked, or told, to admit or readmit residents who had or may have COVID-19. Hospitals need beds for acutely ill residents and need to discharge patients that they determine can be … [Read more...] about Hospitals Should Discharge Patients with Coronavirus Only to Qualified Nursing Homes
New Guidance On Nursing Home Health Inspections Severely Limits Oversight and Enforcement for a Three-Week Period
On March 20, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued new guidance directing state survey agencies to conduct health inspections only if they relate to complaints and facility-reported incidents (FRIs) triaged at the … [Read more...] about New Guidance On Nursing Home Health Inspections Severely Limits Oversight and Enforcement for a Three-Week Period