I. Current Talking Points & Templates for Media Engagement:
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.)
On the national media front, Hurricane Ian’s impact on older adults remained a focus, while other areas of consumer and business outlets’ focus included access to home health care and payment policies, as well as Medicare Advantage. Trade outlets kept watch on staffing, with public health emergency waivers related to temporary nurse aides (TNAs) expiring; other areas of focus include nursing home closures and CDC’s changes to guidance on masking.
Biden Administration, Congress, Government Agencies
- Axios: Home health, nursing homes look for year-end breaks in spending deal
- New York Times: ‘The Cash Monster Was Insatiable’: How Insurers Exploited Medicare for Billions
- Fortune, Kaiser Health News: Nursing home surprise: Advantage plans may shorten stays to less time than Medicare covers
- Modern Healthcare: Nearly 20% of Medicare Advantage plans lose star revenue for 2023
- * CQ RollCall: Home health groups fight back against proposed cuts
- Home Health Care News: The Home Health Proposed Payment Rule’s Biggest Threat: Worsening Access To Care
- Forbes: Medicaid Long-Term Care’s Real Problem Is Insufficient Resources, Not Abuse By Wealthy Seniors
- Skilled Nursing News: States Await CMS Approval For Skilled Nursing TNA Waivers As Deadline Looms
- Home Health Care News: ‘Come Home To Roost’: Lawsuit Filed Against HHS Over Home Health Care Shortcomings
- Hospice News: How the US Will Revamp Family Caregiver Support
Workforce, Coronavirus, Vaccines, Waivers, Closures
- *McKnight’s Senior Living: $80M federal program to boost nursing training
- Health Leaders: Temporary Nurse Aides Waiting To See If They Will Lose Their Job On Friday
- McKnight’s Senior Living: ‘Tens of thousands’ of nursing home caregivers could lose their jobs this week: AHCA
- *Skilled Nursing News: SNF Operators in Favor of Staffing Standards But Not Without Funding, Role Expansion
- *Modern Healthcare: Battling bottlenecks: Post-acute staffing shortages cause months of hospital discharge delays
- *McKnight’s Long-Term Care: States get needed nurse aide waiver relief but workers’ fates uncertain
- Axios.com: Caregiver shortage hits rural areas the hardest
- (Opinion) McKnight’s Long-Term Care: CNAs: The forgotten soldiers in the war against COVID-19
- *McKnight’s Senior Living: Operational, workforce challenges tax affordable senior housing providers: survey
- McKnight’s Long-Term Care: Some providers dubious as return to pre-COVID ‘normal’ gets official OK
- Skilled Nursing News: SNF Operators Cautious Over CDC Mask Changes Amid Regulatory Whiplash, Fatigued Staff
- *McKnight’s Long-Term Care: CDC’s looser nursing home masking rules not for everyone
- McKnight’s Long-Term Care: CDC: Two booster shots cut severe COVID risk in nursing home residents by 74 percent
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:
- New York Times: Many of Hurricane Ian’s Victims Were Older Adults Who Drowned
- Associated Press, HuffPost: As Hurricane Ian Battered Florida, Older Adults Were Especially Vulnerable
- WUSF.com: Some nursing home residents are still displaced after Hurricane Ian
- WTSP.com: Tampa startup fulfills ‘wish list’ of supplies for southwest Florida nursing homes
- McKnight’s Senior Living: Advance care plan discussions need to happen earlier for those with dementia: study authors
- *McKnight’s Long-Term Care: The carrot vs. the stick
- Home Health Care News: Why Private Equity Wants To Be ‘In The Home’ For The Long Haul
- Kaiser Health News: Photographer’s 12-Year Quest to Document Her Life Produces a Rich Portrait of Aging
- Politico: Ideas for making care for elderly adults safer
IV. What’s On Our Radar — this week’s likely priorities:
- Prepping announcement of vaccine grant award winners
- Prepping for Annual Meeting 2022. Join us for a media-focused session on Tues., Oct. 18, 2:45 pm: 80-H Meet the Press: Garnering Coverage in Your Market
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.
