A federal jury has delivered a stinging blow to long-term care pharmacy giant Omnicare, finding the CVS Health subsidiary liable for a staggering $136 million in damages for fraudulently dispensing drugs without valid prescriptions. This amount is expected to balloon to over $406 million after statutory penalties are applied, marking it as “one of the largest damages verdicts rendered by a jury in a False Claims Act case,” according to the Department of Justice. The unanimous verdict, reached in a case involving more than 3,000 senior living communities, alleges that Omnicare billed Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE for over three million…
Author: Lauren S
A new study published in BMC Geriatrics sheds light on the crucial factors that determine the independence of older adults, revealing that depression and frailty status are strong indicators of an individual’s ability to maintain autonomy. The findings, based on an analysis of 1,277 adults aged 75 and older, have significant implications for the nursing home industry in terms of assessment, care planning, and intervention strategies. The researchers tracked participants over a 24-month period, utilizing the Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living (NEADL) scale to gauge their level of independence. Their analysis identified a range of factors influencing independence at…
A major insurance firm is locked in a federal court battle, arguing it shouldn’t have to foot the bill for a settlement reached by one of its client nursing homes. The dispute centers on whether the insurer’s approval was necessary before the settlement could be finalized. Nightingale Healthcare’s Arlington Health and Rehabilitation faced a negligence lawsuit in county court filed by Donald Stallings, which resulted in a nearly $3.3 million jury verdict against both Nightingale and its management arm. In a move that could have been aimed at mitigating further legal costs and obligations, Nightingale subsequently negotiated a settlement. The…
The staggering economic toll of dementia in the United States has reached a jaw-dropping $781 billion in 2025, a figure that underscores the immense pressure on the healthcare system, particularly the long-term care sector. A newly released report from the University of Southern California (USC) Leonard D. Schaeffer Institute for Public Policy & Government Service, in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Association and the University of Pennsylvania, paints a stark picture of the financial crisis driven by this growing health challenge. According to the report, a significant 30%, or $232 billion, of this colossal sum is directly attributed to medical and…
The ongoing saga surrounding former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s handling of nursing home deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic has taken another dramatic turn. House Republicans are once again pressing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to pursue criminal charges against Cuomo, alleging he made “criminally false statements” to Congress regarding the undercounting of nursing home fatalities. This renewed effort comes after the House Oversight Committee re-submitted a criminal referral, highlighting “overwhelming evidence” that a state audit, overseen by Cuomo, significantly downplayed the true number of deaths in New York’s senior care facilities. The core of the allegation centers on…
A leaked Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) document has revealed a proposed $40 million cut to various healthcare workforce development programs, sending ripples of concern through the nursing home industry. The cuts, representing a significant portion of the agency’s discretionary spending in the preliminary 2026 budget, include several initiatives critical to building and maintaining a skilled workforce in long-term care. According to the Washington Post, which also obtained the 64-page document, these proposed reductions come as HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. aims to streamline the agency. The plan outlines the creation of a new entity, the Administration…
A bipartisan bill gaining traction in Congress could soon provide a significant financial boost to individuals seeking careers as certified nursing assistants (CNAs) and other direct care workers. The “Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act” proposes expanding the permissible uses of state 529 savings plans to cover the costs associated with professional credentialing programs. This move, if enacted, could alleviate financial barriers and help address the persistent workforce shortages plaguing the nursing home industry. Currently, 529 plans, initially designed to save for college expenses, have seen their scope broaden over the years to include vocational training and apprenticeship programs.…
The nursing home industry is bracing for a financial shockwave as new tariffs threaten to inflate healthcare costs by a staggering 15% within months, according to a recent survey by Black Book Research. This surge, driven by tariffs on imported goods from Canada, China, and Mexico, casts a long shadow over an industry already grappling with tight margins and rising operational expenses. Black Book Research, a prominent healthcare research and analysis firm, polled 200 industry experts, including supply chain professionals, pharmaceutical executives, and medical equipment manufacturers. A startling 82% of respondents expressed deep concern about the tariffs’ impact. The root…
The aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic spurred a vital push to integrate nursing homes into robust public health networks. States responded, launching critical infection prevention and outbreak monitoring initiatives. However, a recent move by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to claw back $11.4 billion in federal grants threatens to derail these efforts, leaving the long-term care sector facing significant challenges. “This funding cut will set back critical upgrades to our public health labs, technology used to track infectious diseases like H5N1 avian flu and measles, vaccination efforts, and our ongoing work to better prepare for the next…
LONGVIEW, TX – In a disturbing incident that underscores the ongoing challenges facing the nursing home industry, a 34-year-old certified nursing assistant (CNA) has been arrested for allegedly restraining a resident with a pair of leggings at Whispering Pines Lodge in Longview, Texas. Simone Monique Barnes has been charged with unlawful restraint, exposing the resident to potential serious bodily injury. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by KLTV, the incident came to light on March 6 when a dayshift CNA discovered a 55-year-old resident tied to her bed with black leggings at approximately 8:15 a.m. The resident, who suffers from…
