I. Current Talking Points for Media Engagement:
CMS Skilled Nursing Facility Proposed Payment Rule Talking Points
See link to full State Media Resources folder at bottom of page.
II. Following the Narrative: A quick summary of national media trends last week.
(* indicates that LeadingAge is featured in the story.)
While issues not related to aging services or older adults led national news over the past two weeks, caregiving and workforce issues – major themes for our sector – did break through. Nursing home closures, staffing shortages and housing needs got attention from trades and local outlets.
Biden Administration, Congress, Government Agencies
- *Modern Healthcare: CMS taking steps toward nursing home minimum staffing requirement
- *McKnight’s Senior Living: Senior living workforce, affordable housing priorities included in House appropriations proposal
- Skilled Nursing news: Congressional Leaders Urge CMS to Phase-In Proposed Medicare Cuts to Nursing Homes
- McKnight’s Long Term Care News: On PDPM cuts, Congress ‘stands ready’ to exert its authority — but where’s the checkbook?
- *Skilled Nursing News: UPDATED: CMS Updates Nursing Home Medicare Requirements of Participation Guidance, Furthers Biden Reform Agenda
- *McKnight’s Home Care: LeadingAge Chastises HHS for ‘Devastating’ Home Health Rule
- *McKnight’s Long Term Care News: Providers to feds: Ease up on ‘restrictive’ COVID recommendations to ease staffing crunch
- *Skilled Nursing News: Nursing Home, Other Payment Cuts Could Devastate Fragile Care Continuum, LeadingAge Warns HHS
- *McKnight’s Senior Living: Long-term care in the mix as states respond to Supreme Court’s gun control decision
- Kaiser Health News: Government Watchdogs Attack Medicare Advantage for Denying Care and Overcharging
- McKnight’s Long Term Care News: Nursing homes become ‘high-risk,’ owners to be fingerprinted under new doc pay rule proposal
- *McKnight’s Senior Living: HUD project-based vouchers can be used for assisted living: LeadingAge
Workforce, Coronavirus, Vaccines, Waivers, Closures
- New York Times: Jobs Aplenty, but a Shortage of Care Keeps Many Women From Benefiting
- (OpEd) Washington Post: The worst virus variant just arrived. The pandemic is not over.
- *Health Day: Staffing Shortages Have U.S. Nursing Homes in Crisis
- AARP: How to Help Nursing Home Residents Through the Staffing Crisis
- McKnight’s Long Term Care News: CNA candidates ‘giving up’ as exam openings fail to keep pace with worker demand
- *Skilled Nursing News: Operators Decry Civil Monetary Penalty Lockouts As Punitive, Arbitrary Barrier to Workforce Expansion
- McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: SNF workforce ‘far below’ pre-pandemic levels but finally showing signs of life
- Skilled Nursing News: 90% of Skilled Nursing Pros Say Reimbursement Will Suffer Due to Labor Issues
- *McKnight’s Senior Living: Why the RN visa delays? Group demands answers
- LeadingAge, KXAN, NBC (Texas): Texas lawmakers consider ‘workforce challenges’ in nursing homes, assisted living
- Hospice News: Hospices Develop Nurse Residencies to Stem Labor Pressures
- The Hill: Health Care — Highly transmissible subvariant now dominant in US
- Hospice News: COVID-19 Public Emergency to Continue, Hospices in the Dark on Regulatory Future
- Washington Post: Nursing home that diverted vaccines to rich donors pays $1.75 million
- *McKnight’s Long Term Care News: CMS doubles down: Surveyors do not have to be COVID vaccinated
- The Gazette: Colorado Springs long-term-care facility lays off 144 workers, relocates 79 residents amid challenges caused by pandemic
- Becker’s Hospital Review, 5 recent nursing home closures
III. Other Clips that Influenced the Week: LeadingAge is a sought-out, reliable source for multiple trade and national media outlets (see that coverage posted in our LeadingAge Press Room). Other key clips that shaped the narrative last week:
- *Skilled Nursing News: How Rising Inflation is Eroding Margins as the Nursing Home Industry Readies for Possible Recession
- McKnight’s Business Daily: Long-term inflation threatens life plan community margins
- STAT: Mainstream medicine must embrace palliative care services
- San Diego Union Tribune: Column: Artist, 95, sells her paintings to help pay assisted living bill
- McKnight’s Senior Living: Holding onto ‘authentic identity’ in senior living a priority for LGBTQ seniors
- *McKnight’s Senior Living: Assisted living managers at CCRCs see 3.52 percent salary increases
- *Senior Housing News: Average Salary for Executive Directors of CCRCs Exceeds $190K
- (OpEd) Hospice News: Housing Insecurity A Threat to Seniors, Poses a Risk to Hospice Providers
- *Hospice News: Hospices Optimize Admissions Process to Boost Admissions, Length of Stay
IV. What’s On Our Radar — this week’s likely priorities:
- Media push re: home health proposed payment rule
- Impact of nursing home closures
- Ongoing engagement with White House, federal agencies re: POTUS Quality of Care in Nursing Homes Initiative
V. National Statements & Products (all posted on the Press Room page):
