Senate Democrats are once again pushing to establish federal minimum staffing standards for nursing homes, reviving a staffing mandate first finalized in 2024 that was later rolled back following regulatory action and legal challenges. The newly introduced Nurses Belong in Nursing Homes Act, led by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), would give the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services clear authority to set nationwide staffing requirements. The 2024 federal staffing standards were later rescinded following regulatory action and legal challenges from nursing home groups that raised concerns about workforce impacts. If enacted, the bill would restore 2024 standards requiring a registered…
Author: Mordy Y
A proposal to overhaul Indiana’s managed long-term care system sparked tense exchanges this week, as lawmakers weighed projected savings against warnings from state officials that the move could destabilize Medicaid services. House Bill 1277 would significantly alter the state’s Pathways for Aging program, which moved most long-term services for older adults and some disabled residents into managed care in 2024. Supporters say the measure could save more than $100 million annually. State leaders say those numbers don’t add up. The bill would shift long-stay nursing home residents — those in facilities for at least 100 consecutive days — out of…
Goshen Township, Ohio — More than 50 residents at a Clermont County nursing home were allegedly victims of a years-long theft scheme that authorities say was carried out by a former employee. Police have charged Christina Williams, 51, of Colerain, with stealing more than $300,000 from residents at Venetian Gardens Nursing Home, according to Goshen Township Police Chief Bob Rose. The investigation began in May 2025 after police received a report alleging that a former staff member had been taking money from residents’ accounts. The case was handed over to the department’s Criminal Investigations Unit. Investigation Spanned Nearly a Year…
Proposed federal regulations aimed at lowering health care costs would preserve a clear boundary in coverage: long-term nursing home custodial care is not an essential health benefit. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) this week released its proposed Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2027. In the rule, the agency reaffirmed that long-term, or custodial, care is not included in the essential health benefits that Affordable Care Act marketplace plans must cover. That policy already exists and would remain unchanged under the proposal. As a result, health plans sold through ACA exchanges would continue to exclude extended…
Older adults who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid and have more complex health needs are more likely to begin long-term services and supports (LTSS) in nursing homes rather than through home- and community-based services (HCBS), according to new research published in February in the Journal of the Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association. The study examined 581 adults age 65 and older living in Southern Community Cohort Study states. All participants had at least three consecutive months of full Medicaid coverage before initiating LTSS between January 2007 and December 2018. By 2018, the group was nearly evenly divided: 49.9%…
Rochester, NY — Dozens of workers from Pearl Nursing Center stood along Portland Avenue on Tuesday, calling attention to what they describe as unsafe staffing levels and stalled contract negotiations that have dragged on for nearly nine months. The demonstration brought together nursing home employees, community advocates, and local elected officials. At the center of the dispute is an expired union contract covering more than 80 workers. Members of 1199SEIU say negotiations with management have made little progress since the agreement lapsed. Workers say the delays are taking a toll not only on employees but also on residents. “We want…
Windsor Locks, CT — The owner of the nursing home where a 93-year-old resident died after wandering out into the freezing early-morning cold now faces a separate and escalating financial issue: more than $100,000 in unpaid municipal taxes and an upcoming public auction of the property. Records show that the property housing the Bickford Health Care Center at 14 Main Street and a nearby house belonging to the same company, Newport Bickford Inc., are both listed on the Connecticut Tax Sales website for a tax sale scheduled for April 23, 2026. The notice says municipal taxes owed through January 31…
Rochester, NY — State health regulators have imposed a $666,000 civil penalty on Waterview Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing Center after uncovering widespread violations, including abuse, neglect, medication errors and chronic staffing shortages. The New York State Department of Health issued the fine following surveys conducted in September 2024 and May 2025. Inspectors cited 358 violations tied to the enforcement action. Under a stipulation finalized in December, the facility must pay $100,000 in installments. The remaining $566,000 has been suspended and will be waived if the operator meets strict compliance conditions over the next two years. Failure to do so would…
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has reissued a major funding opportunity aimed at strengthening staffing levels in nursing homes across the country. On February 9, 2026, the agency posted an updated Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for its Nursing Home Staffing Campaign. A similar notice was released in January 2025 but ultimately was not carried out. This time, CMS is moving forward with plans to distribute an estimated $80 million to support nurse recruitment and retention. How the Program Works Through the NOFO, CMS is seeking organizations to serve as Financial Incentive Administrators (FIAs). These selected entities…
Ohio nursing homes are still waiting for clarity after the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that the state underpaid facilities by an estimated $572 million over a two-year period. The dispute centers on how the Ohio Department of Medicaid calculated reimbursements under a revised payment formula. In its ruling last year, the court found the department’s interpretation of state law significantly reduced funding meant for quality incentive payments. “The department’s interpretation does not reflect what the enacted legislation says, and it dramatically shortchanges the statutorily mandated increase to the quality-incentive pool,” the court wrote. Ohio Medicaid argued that implementing the decision…
