SNF Staffing

Last week, CMA released an Alert reporting on four recent studies that found a positive correlation between nurse staffing levels and improved nursing home performance in containing COVID-19 cases and deaths. Nursing homes in every state, along with … [Read more...] about Nursing Homes Nationwide Report Shortages of Nursing Staff

Since March 20, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has waived the requirement, set out in the Medicare and Medicaid statutes and regulations, that restrict nursing facilities from using nurse aides for more than four months … [Read more...] about CMS Will Not Track Minimally Trained Aides at Nursing Facilities

Under the federal Nursing Home Reform Law (1987), nurse aides may not work for more than four months unless they are trained in a training program of at least 75 hours and determined to be competent.[1] On March 20, 2020, as part of a long list of … [Read more...] about Who’s Providing Care to Nursing Home Residents?

On March 13, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued guidance to nursing homes on COVID-19 (coronavirus). CMS is directing nursing homes to restrict all visitors and non-essential health care workers from entering … [Read more...] about Restrictions on Family Caregivers Raise Concerns about Unmet Care Needs In Nursing Homes

With more and more patients quickly discharged from acute care hospitals to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), SNF residents are more clinically complex than ever. Despite the fact that residents have greater health care needs, federal standards for … [Read more...] about Improve Physician Staffing in Nursing Homes

Reducing the re-hospitalization of nursing home residents is a constant and important public policy goal. At present, the goal is largely met by imposing financial sanctions against hospitals[1] and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs)[2] when residents … [Read more...] about How to Prevent Re-Hospitalization Of Nursing Home Residents: More Physicians and Nurses In Nursing Homes

States Whose Nursing Facilities Employ Few Registered Nurses Are More Likely To Be Penalized for Readmissions of Their Residents to HospitalsIn 2014, as part of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act, Congress created the Skilled Nursing Facility … [Read more...] about Registered Nurses Are the Key to Reducing Hospital Readmissions of Nursing Home Residents