Author: Charles Adams

Skilled Care Journal – The FDA’s recent approval of Ozempic for adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD) marks a significant development with potential implications for the nursing home industry. This decision makes Ozempic the first GLP-1 treatment option for this patient population, addressing a critical need given the high prevalence of CKD among diabetic nursing home residents. Ozempic, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, has demonstrated promising results in clinical trials. Novo Nordisk, the drug’s maker, reports that Ozempic reduced the risk of death from CKD and major cardiac events by 24% in people with diabetes.…

Colonial Heights, VA – The ongoing investigation into alleged elder abuse and neglect at Colonial Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing Center has resulted in a 19th staff member facing criminal charges. Michelle Beddoe, a nurse manager at the facility, was arrested this week and charged with abuse of a vulnerable adult resulting in death. This development comes just over a month after a large-scale raid by law enforcement on the nursing home in December. The charges against Beddoe stem from the death of a 74-year-old resident with cerebral palsy and diabetes. Investigators allege that the resident’s death was caused by sepsis…

Medicare Advantage (MA) plans are increasingly relying on prior authorizations, creating significant hurdles for nursing homes and their patients, according to a recent analysis by KFF. This trend continues despite growing scrutiny from federal agencies and lawmakers. The KFF analysis revealed a stark disparity in prior authorization requirements between MA plans and traditional Medicare. In 2023, MA plans required prior authorizations approximately 125 times more often than traditional Medicare. Specifically, MA plans averaged nearly two prior authorization determinations per enrollee, while traditional Medicare averaged only about 0.01 per enrollee. This translates to nearly 50 million prior authorization requests for MA…

The Department of Justice (DOJ) recently announced the sentencing of Lourdes Navarro, a laboratory owner, to nine years in prison for her involvement in a massive COVID-19 testing fraud scheme. Navarro and her partner, Imran Shams, exploited the pandemic to submit fraudulent claims for unnecessary tests, primarily targeting vulnerable nursing home residents. The scheme involved billing Medicare for costly respiratory pathogen panel (RPP) tests instead of the screening tests that were actually needed. This resulted in a staggering $369 million in false claims, with Medicare wrongly reimbursing over $46 million. This case highlights the vulnerability of nursing homes to healthcare…

In his first grilling before the Senate Finance Committee, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), found himself on the defensive, particularly on his stance on Medicaid, Medicare, and nursing home staffing regulations. Kennedy’s responses and views revealed gaps in his understanding of key healthcare programs, which could have significant implications for nursing homes and seniors across the nation. Nursing Home Staffing Mandate: A “Disaster” for Rural America One of the most contentious topics during the hearing was the Biden administration’s new nursing home staffing mandate, which is…

A shocking case of medication tampering and theft has rocked a Pella, Iowa nursing home, raising serious concerns about patient safety and the integrity of care. Jessica Lynn Emerson, 36, of Albia, is facing multiple felony charges for allegedly swapping residents’ Zofran, an anti-nausea medication, with Oxycodone, a powerful opioid painkiller. Emerson, a nurse at Hearthstone nursing facility, is also accused of intercepting Oxycodone deliveries intended for residents. “This is a deeply disturbing case that highlights the potential for drug diversion within healthcare facilities,” says Professor Sarah Johnson, a geriatric care specialist at the University of Iowa. “The alleged actions…

A devastating midair collision between an American Eagle regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter occurred Wednesday evening, plunging into the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. The crash has claimed the lives of dozens, prompting a large-scale recovery operation and mourning across the nation. American Eagle Flight No. 5342, operated by PSA Airlines, was en route from Wichita, Kansas, carrying 60 passengers and four crew members. The Sikorsky H-60 helicopter, from B Company, 12th Aviation Battalion out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia, was on a training flight with three soldiers aboard, according to the Defense…

Sligo, PA. – Two long-standing senior care facilities in Sligo will permanently close their doors, displacing 86 residents and further highlighting the growing crisis facing elder care facilities across the state. Clarview Nursing & Rehabilitation Center and Country Springs Personal Care Home will cease operations within the next 60 days, according to an announcement from their Board of Directors. The closure affects 61 residents at Clarview and 25 at Country Springs. The adjacent care centers, which have served the C1000larion County area for over 45 years, cite mounting financial pressures as the primary reason for shutting down. A significant gap between…

A 66-year-old man residing in a Utah nursing home has been arrested in connection with the 1977 murder of a 16-year-old girl in Hawaii, marking a significant victory for cold case investigations and the power of DNA technology. [Salt Lake City, Utah] – Gideon Castro, a former classmate of the victim, was apprehended on Tuesday following a DNA match linked to evidence from the crime scene. The arrest brings a potential resolution to a case that has haunted the Honolulu community for nearly five decades. A Crime Unsolved for Decades In March 1977, Dawn Momohara, a sophomore at McKinley High…

The skilled nursing industry was rocked this week by the news that KBWB Operations, operating as Atrium Health and Senior Living, and its CEO, Matthew Breslin, pleaded guilty to charges of healthcare fraud and tax conspiracy. This case, stemming from a complex scheme that defrauded investors, staff, and vendors, serves as a stark reminder of the critical need for ethical and responsible conduct within the long-term care sector. According to the Department of Justice, Atrium, which once operated facilities across Wisconsin, Michigan, and New Jersey, prioritized payments to investors while neglecting essential operational needs. This included failing to pay vendors,…