Author: Charles Adams

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has delayed the implementation of its updated surveyor guidance to March 24, 2025. This move gives nursing homes additional time to prepare for the significant changes to how surveyors will assess compliance with key regulations. Originally slated to take effect in February, the new guidance, detailed in Appendix PP of the State Operations Manual, was pushed back due to its extensive nature. The revisions impact a wide range of areas, including staffing, antipsychotic medication use, discharge planning, and infection control. “My assumption about the delay is that they don’t have the surveyors…

The recent halt in external communications from federal health agencies, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), has sent ripples of concern throughout the nursing home industry. This pause, initiated as part of the presidential transition, has resulted in darkened websites, canceled public health meetings, and a chilling effect on critical data sharing. “This is all very scary and crippling for public health,” says Buffy Lloyd-Krejci, a seasoned infection preventionist and long-term care consultant. “As infection preventionists, we rely on the CDC and other local public health entities to provide us with this information in a timely manner.…

On his first day back in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump issued sweeping executive orders aimed at dismantling Biden-era policies, signaling a potentially significant shift for the healthcare sector. Among the most notable moves was a freeze on new federal regulations—a decision that has left skilled nursing providers hopeful for a reprieve from the Biden administration’s controversial nursing home staffing mandate. The freeze, which temporarily halts any proposed or recently finalized regulations, gives the Trump administration 60 days to review existing rules for compliance with its priorities. While this moratorium does not directly affect the nursing home staffing mandate,…

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s (D) proposed 2026-2027 biennial budget has sparked sharp criticism from long-term care operators, who describe it as a “short-sighted slap in the face” that could severely impact access to senior care services across the state. The proposal, unveiled Thursday, includes a $200 million cut to nursing home funding, leaving operators bracing for financial challenges that could lead to reduced services and facility closures. Ben Hansen, director of communications at LeadingAge Minnesota, warned that the cuts would create a minimum 2% gap between providers’ expenses and state reimbursements. “The governor’s proposal to cut $200 million from the…

In a blow to opponents of the federal nursing home staffing mandate, a federal judge has denied a request for a preliminary injunction that would have temporarily halted its implementation. The decision, issued by US District Judge Leonard T. Strand of the US District Court for Northern Iowa, sets the stage for a continued legal battle over the controversial rule. The lawsuit, brought by 20 states and 18 LeadingAge state affiliates, argued that the mandate would impose significant financial burdens on nursing homes and exacerbate existing staffing shortages. However, Judge Strand found that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate the “irreparable…

A devastating fire ripped through a nursing home in Barajevo, a municipality on the outskirts of Belgrade, Serbia, early Monday morning, leaving eight residents dead and seven injured. The blaze, which authorities suspect was deliberately set, has sent shockwaves through the Serbian elder care community and raised urgent questions about safety and security in such facilities. The fire erupted around 3:30 a.m. local time, while most residents were asleep. “This is a huge tragedy, but it could have been even worse,” Luka Causevic, head of the government’s department for emergency situations, told RTS, Serbia’s state TV. He noted that 30…

A recent lawsuit against several hospitality staffing agencies is sending ripples through the gig economy, with potential implications for the nursing home industry, which also relies heavily on temporary staffing. The lawsuit, filed in California by The Party Staff, a traditional hospitality staffing agency, accuses competitors Qwick, Instawork, Tend, and Nowsta of misclassifying workers as independent contractors to avoid legal obligations like minimum wage, overtime pay, and workers’ compensation insurance. This practice, often called the “gig” model, allows platforms to significantly reduce labor costs, undercutting traditional agencies that comply with employment laws. “When companies misclassify workers, they make it very…

As the devastating wildfires continue to rage across Los Angeles, the question arises: why haven’t the combined resources of the federal government, California, and Los Angeles been able to contain the blazes after a week of intense firefighting? The answer, experts say, lies in a complex interplay of factors, primarily driven by the ferocious Santa Ana winds. These winds, known for their dry and gusty nature, have created a perfect storm for fire propagation. “Fires under these conditions — they’re not moving on the ground as a normal fire would,” says Hugh Safford, a fire ecologist at the University of…

In the final stretch of the 2020 presidential election, senior officials within Donald Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ) deliberately leaked confidential information about ongoing investigations into COVID-19 nursing home deaths in New York and New Jersey. Their goal? To politically damage Democratic governors Andrew Cuomo and Phil Murphy. According to a damning report from DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz, these actions violated long-standing DOJ policies designed to prevent the misuse of law enforcement powers for political gain. The findings provide stark evidence that Trump’s DOJ engaged in precisely the kind of political weaponization the former president now claims to be…

A recent ruling in the US District Court for the District of Columbia has sent a clear message: the District must do more to help disabled nursing home residents transition to community-based care. The court found the District in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for failing to adequately support residents who could thrive outside of nursing homes. This decision follows a protracted legal battle and echoes similar cases nationwide. It highlights a growing movement advocating for the rights of individuals with disabilities to live in the least restrictive environment possible. “This ruling is a victory for those…