Author: Charles Adams

The recent Eaton Fire in Pasadena, California forced the emergency evacuation of over 1,400 residents from dozens of nursing homes and assisted living facilities, shining a light on critical gaps in emergency preparedness and response for this vulnerable population. As flames approached, chaotic scenes unfolded with residents rushed to safety in parking lots and public shelters. Medical staff at the Pasadena Civic Center reported severe shortages of essential supplies, including cots, gloves, and incontinence products. “We didn’t have any PPE, so there were people with catheters, you know, diapers that need changing,” said Dr. Laura Mosqueda, a professor at USC’s…

A newly released report from the Justice Department’s inspector general has sent shockwaves through the nursing home industry, raising serious concerns about political interference in oversight, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, reveals how senior Trump administration officials selectively leaked information about an investigation into nursing home deaths in New York and New Jersey just before the 2020 election. This revelation has sparked outrage and calls for greater transparency and accountability in nursing home regulation. Key Findings of the Report The inspector general’s review found that three senior Justice Department officials…

Providers met the federal regulators’ plans to offer nursing students up to $50,000 to work in nursing homes or for state survey agencies with a mix of hope, uncertainty, and skepticism. While the initiative aims to address the critical nursing shortage in long-term care, concerns linger about the program’s funding adequacy and implementation strategy. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the $20 million program as part of its broader Nursing Home Staffing Campaign. Eligible applicants for the grants are nonprofit nursing and educational organizations, tasked with evaluating nurse applicants and distributing the funds. “CMS forming a partnership…

A shocking incident of resident abuse has rocked the Lake Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility in Dunedin, Florida, raising serious concerns about the safety and well-being of vulnerable residents. Former certified nursing assistant, Nicholas Brown, 35, was arrested on Tuesday following accusations of physically abusing two non-verbal residents under his care. According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Brown allegedly struck the residents, one suffering from a traumatic brain injury and the other a quadriplegic with intellectual disabilities, multiple times on their legs, sides, and buttocks. “This is a deeply disturbing case that highlights the vulnerability of nursing home residents…

The nursing home industry has long struggled with staffing shortages, a problem exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. To fill gaps in their workforce, many facilities turned to agency nurses. However, a new study published in Medical Care suggests that this reliance on temporary staff may be linked to lower quality ratings in the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Five-Star system. Researchers analyzed data from over 80,000 U.S. nursing homes between 2017 and 2022 and found that the use of agency registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and certified nursing assistants (CNAs) decreased a facility’s chance of achieving…

The issue of low personal needs allowances for nursing home residents on Medicaid has been brought to the forefront by a recent JAMA Health viewpoint. Policy researchers are urging federal regulators to take action and increase these allowances, which have stagnated or failed to keep pace with inflation in many states. “These allowances are crucial,” explains Monica Aswani, DrPH, assistant health services professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and co-author of the viewpoint. “They are often the primary source of income for residents, covering essential personal expenses like clothing, toiletries, and even phone bills. When these allowances are…

The long-simmering debate over swing-bed payments has reignited with the release of a new report from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG). The OIG claims that Medicare could have saved a staggering $7.7 billion over a six-year period if skilled nursing services provided in rural hospital swing beds were reimbursed at the same rate as those in standalone skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). This isn’t the first time the OIG has targeted swing beds. Under the Rural Flexibility Program, Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) are reimbursed at 101% of their skilled nursing costs, a policy intended…

Ninety-two New York nursing homes are suing the state’s Department of Health (DOH) and its commissioner, alleging that recent cuts to capital funding violate their equal protection rights. The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for New York’s Northern District, claims that the DOH’s decision to end funding in 2025 for capital expenditures at older facilities is unconstitutional. These facilities, representing over 15% of New York’s nursing homes, rely on state funding for essential maintenance, including repairs to HVAC systems, roofs, elevators, and more. The lawsuit argues that an April amendment to Public Health Law § 2808, which slashed…

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.…

In a move that could have significant implications for the state’s senior care landscape, 92 nursing homes have filed a lawsuit against the New York State Department of Health. The lawsuit centers on the department’s decision to cease reimbursing older facilities for capital improvements, a move the nursing homes allege is discriminatory and threatens their financial viability. The crux of the issue lies in the state’s assessment of a facility’s “useful life,” a metric used to determine eligibility for reimbursement. According to the lawsuit, the Department of Health has arbitrarily set this threshold at 40 years, effectively denying older facilities…