I. Current Talking Points & Templates for Media Engagement:
September Workforce Development Month Talking Points
Template Op-Ed: Aging Services Workforce Now Campaign
CMS Home Health Proposed Payment Talking Points
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.)
Quiet week in the national policy news as Congressional members are back in their districts doing local work. News from the United Nations of one million COVID deaths worldwide in 2022 so far aligned with trade pieces focusing on the continuous impact of COVID on aging service providers, specifically staffing. And a New Yorker story on private equity ownership impact on nursing homes inspired follow-ups in local media and trades.
Biden Administration, Congress, Government Agencies
- UN News: World reaches ‘tragic milestone’ of one million COVID-19 deaths so far in 2022
- *Hospice News: How Immigration Policy Impacts the Hospice Workforce
- *McKnight’s Long-Term Care: CMS urges states to link accountability, Medicaid funding
- *McKnight’s Senior Living: Money Follows the Person program limits hinder senior living’s ability to serve older adults, groups say
- *Healthcare Finance News: Home health agencies protest 2023 proposed payment rate cuts
- *Hospice News: How Medicare Budget Neutrality Impacts Hospice Payment
Workforce, Coronavirus, Vaccines, Waivers, Closures
- McKnight’s Long-Term Care: CMS outlines 4-pronged minimum staffing study
- Skilled Nursing News: AHCA’s Parkinson: Unfunded Federal Staffing Mandate Would Be ‘Lights Out’ For Nursing Homes Across The Country
- Skilled Nursing News: Why Immigration Falls Short as a Nursing Home Workforce Solution — And How to Fix It
- Skilled Nursing News: Psychologists, Social Workers In Short Supply As Demand For Behavioral Health Services in Nursing Homes Soar
- *Skilled Nursing News: More Skilled Nursing Providers Fill Care Gaps with Palliative, Hospice Services
- McKnight’s Senior Living: Rising operating expenses surpass staffing as top provider concern: NIC
- *McKnight’s Long-Term Care: Provider group gathers momentum in unique workforce recruitment and training effort
- CBS Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania): Nursing home workers at 24 facilities throughout Pa. issue notices to strike
- McKnight’s Senior Living: Long-term care employment still down 10.7 percent since start of pandemic: Altarum
- McKnight’s Long-Term Care: CDC: Seniors’ comparative rate of hospitalization spiked during omicron wave
- McKnight’s Long-Term Care: CMS prompts nursing homes to prepare for end of PHE waivers, flexibilities
- WebMD: Paxlovid Reduces Risk of COVID Death by 79% in Older Adults: Study
- NPR: Pfizer asks FDA to greenlight new omicron booster shots, which could arrive this fall
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:
- The New Yorker: When Private Equity Takes Over a Nursing Home
- (Editor’s Column) McKnight’s Long-Term Care: Taking aim at private equity
- *McKnight’s Senior Living: Provider shares ‘telewellness playbook’ to address resident mental health
- (Opinion) McKnight’s Senior Living: How urban design can fulfill senior living needs for baby boomers
- McKnight’s Home Care: Possible bidding war for Signify Health marks turning point for home care, experts say
- Home Health Care News: How Coding Could Change Under The Home Health Proposed Payment Rule
- McKnight’s Senior Living: Long-term care accounts for 54 percent of healthcare bankruptcies this year
- NBC News: Pfizer says its RSV vaccine protects against severe illness in older adults
IV. What’s On Our Radar — this week’s likely priorities:
- Starting National Workforce Development Month outreach
- Continuing workforce outreach
- Hospice focused trade engagement
- Affordable housing for low-income older adults push
- Member / Congressional offices visits
V. National Statements & Products (all posted on the Press Room page):
