I. Current Talking Points for Media Engagement:
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.)
There’s a good mix of topics in this week’s media coverage. The President’s COVID diagnosis opened the door to reporting on the risks of older adults contracting the virus, along with boosters, treatments, and how the sub variants are spreading across the country. Also introduced this week was CMS quality measures for HCBS, a first. Other topics included HUD funding, no major moves on reconciliation, and workforce issues.
Biden Administration, Congress, Government Agencies
- CNN: Biden tests positive for Covid-19 and is experiencing mild symptoms
- New York Times: Covid’s risks are concentrated among Americans of Biden’s age.
- NBC News: Biden’s age puts him at risk for severe Covid, but experts predict boosters and Paxlovid will aid in a quick recovery
- *McKnight’s Senior Living: $400 billion House spending package includes historic affordable senior housing funding
- Hospice News: New Senate Bill Would Give Terminally Ill the ‘Right to Try’ Psychedelic Therapies
- CNN Politics: Bill aimed at lowering Medicare drug prices faces next test in the Senate
- Forbes: Congress’ Epic Fail In Caring For Frail Older Adults
- *McKnight’s Senior Living: Provider groups decry ‘chronic underfunding’ as CMS introduces HCBS quality measures
- Home Health Care News: CMS Announces Unprecedented Quality Measure Set for Home- and Community-Based Services
- *McKnight’s Long-Term Care: Rule aimed at reducing red tape to come later, or maybe not all
- McKnight’s Home Care: How to avoid DOL’s dragnet? Classify workers properly, NAHC’s Wehri says
- *McKnight’s Senior Living: LeadingAge urges HUD to exempt senior housing funds from new ‘Buy America’ requirements
- *McKnight’s Senior Living: HUD environmental justice tie-in a good fit with provider goals, expert says
Workforce, Coronavirus, Vaccines, Waivers, Closures
- Modern Healthcare: Nursing home staffing rule could cost $10B a year, AHCA says
- McKnight’s Senior Living: AHCA calls for action as 60 percent of SNFs limit new admissions
- Skilled Nursing News: Why Minimum Standards Are Not the Best Way to Monitor Staffing During Covid Outbreaks
- Skilled Nursing News: The Perfect Storm: Nursing Home Industry Outlook is ‘Not Pretty’ Amid Rising Inflation, Labor Costs
- WMTV, NBC (Wisconsin): WisCaregiver Careers launches program expansion to support nursing homes
- *Post Bulletin (Minnesota): Rochester care providers still fighting to overcome worker shortage issue 7
- WTVQ, ABC (Kentucky): Long-term care facilities staffing at ’emergency levels’
- McKnight’s Senior Living: Labor, enforcement trends creating operational, financial challenges for senior living
- The Washington Post: The BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants now dominate worldwide
- First Post: ‘COVID-19 infection doubles risk of mental health problems, financial difficulties in older adults’
- Home Health Care News: Home Health Care Gained a Greater Share of Post-Acute Admissions Post-COVID
- The 19th: COVID continues to hit nursing homes harder, AARP data shows
- McKnight’s Long-Term Care: CDC: Seniors receive 80% protection against severe omicron illness with fourth vaccine dose
- McKnight’s Long-Term Care: CMS still determining what COVID waivers to keep, drop after PHE ends
- Skilled Nursing News: Travel Time Plays Key Role in Nursing Home Visitation Rates Amid Looming Closures
- Skilled Nursing News: Bankrupt Nursing Home Chain QHC to Close 3 Facilities, Sale Remains Uncertain
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:
- Hospice News: Serious Illness Care Quality, Communications Lacking for Black Hospice Patients
- MedCity News: Study: Seniors prefer in-home care, but most are unaware of options available
- Hospice News: The Difference Between Thriving and Surviving: Hospice Providers on Certificates of Need
- Health Leaders: Home Health Nurse Training Prepares Nurses For Autonomy Of Role
- (Podcast) North Carolina Health News: Health Care Half Hour – The future of nursing homes
- *McKnight’s Long-Term Care: ‘Too lax for too long’: Providers urged to shore up active shooter planning
- *McKnight’s Senior Living: Emergency preparedness training key but often missing for frontline staff: expert
- McKnight’s Senior Living: Test program will assess senior living residents’ appetite for personalized wellness resources
- McKnight’s Senior Living: Beyond compliance: Senior living operator tackles infections, antibiotic use with proprietary tech
IV. What’s On Our Radar — this week’s likely priorities:
- Aging Services Workforce Now
- Media push re: home health proposed payment rule & CMS quality measures
- Hospice media engagement
- Impact of nursing home closures
V. National Statements & Products (all posted on the Press Room page):
VI. State Association Media Materials: A folder of helpful resources, sample op-eds, fact sheets, and more.
