Author: Lois A. Bowers

Mehmet Oz, MD, is one step closer to leading the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), as his nomination advanced from committee scrutiny to a full Senate vote. However, his views on Medicaid and nursing home staffing continue to raise concerns among Democrats. The Senate Finance Committee voted 14-13 along party lines to forward Oz’s nomination. While Republicans praised his public health advocacy and vision for CMS, Democrats expressed deep reservations about his commitment to protecting Medicaid and enforcing the federal nursing home staffing mandate. “When I asked him a yes or no question about whether he would protect…

In a move that has sent ripples through the nursing home sector, the Department of Labor (DOL) has unexpectedly appealed a Texas court ruling that blocked the implementation of the Biden-era overtime rule. This appeal, filed with the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, reignites a contentious debate over worker compensation and operational costs within the industry. The crux of the matter lies in the DOL’s attempt to raise the annual salary threshold for overtime pay eligibility under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The proposed rule, set to take effect on January 1, 2025, would have increased this threshold from…

North Charleston, SC – A caregiver at Ashley Gardens nursing home in Charleston County has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of exploitation of a vulnerable adult, financial identity fraud, and obtaining property under false pretense. The arrest, announced by South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson on December 12th, follows an investigation by the Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud (VAMPF) unit. Elisa R. Niles, 42, is accused of stealing from residents of the nursing home where she worked. According to a press release from the Attorney General’s office, Niles allegedly obtained bank account information belonging to the residents…