Staten Island, N.Y. — Leaders of Silver Lake Specialized Care and Rehab Center say the Brighton Heights nursing home could be forced to shut its doors unless New York increases Medicaid reimbursement rates that they argue have not kept pace with the cost of care. Michael Kraus, the facility’s administrator, said the 278-bed nursing home is under severe financial strain because Medicaid payments for many residents fall far below what it costs to deliver services. “We’re at the end of the road,” Kraus said. “That’s why we’re bringing a lawsuit. I’ve tried every avenue — gone to the state, appealed…
Author: Mordy Y
Raleigh, NC — North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson has joined a coalition of 18 state attorneys general urging federal health officials to restore minimum staffing standards for nursing homes, warning that rolling back those rules could leave seniors at greater risk of neglect and preventable harm. In a comment letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, the attorneys general asked the federal government to reinstate protections they say were designed to ensure enough nurses are available to safely care for residents…
Boston, MA — Eleven Massachusetts nursing homes operated by Next Step Healthcare have been placed into court-ordered receivership after their landlord accused the company of owing nearly $15 million in unpaid rent and fees. The landlord, a group of companies affiliated with Cuarzo Healthcare, claims most of the unpaid rent dates back to 2022 and 2023. Separate court filings from a lender say Next Step also owes more than $3 million in outstanding loans. In filings, Cuarzo described Next Step’s finances as being in “dire financial condition” and warned that instability could threaten resident care. A Middlesex County judge granted…
Virginia lawmakers are considering a proposal that would cut certain state payments to nursing homes that pay what regulators deem “excessive” rent to affiliated landlords, including real estate investment trusts. If enacted, the measure would be among the first in the nation to directly target rent levels rather than ownership transactions. The bill, SB 808, is sponsored by Republican state Sen. Glen Sturtevant. It would require nursing facilities to disclose whether they pay rent, identify who receives those payments, and face financial penalties if rent exceeds fair-market benchmarks. Under the proposal, the state’s Department of Medical Assistance Services would reduce…
Grand Rapids, MI — A Michigan woman who fraudulently posed as a licensed registered nurse and worked inside a nursing home has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Federal prosecutors said 51-year-old Leticia Gallarzo received a 75-month prison sentence after admitting to creating falsified medical credentials and stealing the identity of a real nurse licensed in Michigan. The sentence includes penalties for both fraud and aggravated identity theft. Stolen Identity Used to Gain Employment According to court records, Gallarzo assumed the identity of an actual registered nurse before applying…
Late last year, the federal government rolled back key elements of the Biden administration’s nursing home staffing mandate. Now, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is joining a coalition of attorneys general pushing back, urging regulators to reconsider the move. In a letter sent to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Mayes and her counterparts argue that the decision to repeal parts of the rule undermines resident safety and ignores evidence linking higher staffing levels to better health outcomes in long-term care settings. Staffing standards at the center of the debate The now-repealed requirements would have set national minimums for…
Indianapolis, IN — The Indiana House of Representatives has unanimously passed legislation aimed at reining in Medicaid overspending and expanding access to long-term care services for older Hoosiers. House Bill 1277 cleared the House on Monday and now moves to the Senate. The measure is authored by Brad Barrett, R-Richmond, and sponsored in the Senate by Michael Crider, R-Greenfield. The bill focuses on reforming Indiana’s PathWays for Aging Medicaid program, which serves roughly 117,000 elderly and medically vulnerable residents who qualify for nursing facility–level care or home- and community-based services. Launched in July 2024, the PathWays program shifted care coordination…
Whiting, NJ — An evacuation was ordered early Tuesday at a New Jersey nursing home after freezing pipes disrupted the building’s sprinkler system, forcing staff to prepare dozens of residents for relocation. Local police said the incident occurred at Whiting Gardens Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Ocean County. Officials reported receiving conflicting estimates on the number of residents affected, though early indications suggested the total could exceed 60. As of around 7 a.m., authorities said residents were being staged and assisted as part of the evacuation process. Details about the exact failure within the sprinkler system were still under review,…
As nursing home operators look for ways to address staff burnout, turnover, and retention, robotics is gaining attention as a potential support tool — though many leaders say the technology is still a stretch for widespread use. Most current adoption is limited to task-based robots that handle cleaning, dietary support, or logistics. These tools can free up staff for hands-on care, but overall use of robotics in skilled nursing remains early and limited, according to Rob Heitz, founder of Heitz Technologies and a consultant with Ignite Medical Resorts. One promising area is rehabilitation. Robotics can help high-acuity patients get up…
Two major players in the nursing home therapy space have formalized a merger. Aegis Therapies and Broad River Rehab announced Monday that they have completed a strategic partnership designed to expand clinical capabilities and provide enhanced operational support to post-acute and senior living providers nationwide. According to the organizations, the combined entity will offer broader access to technology-enabled tools and infrastructure aimed at improving clinical quality, strengthening compliance readiness, and supporting reimbursement performance. Leaders emphasized that the merger will not disrupt existing operations. Service delivery models, local leadership, and business terms are expected to remain unchanged, with continuity of care…
