Healthcare, Senior Living, Economics
Tonight’s presidential debate should be policy focused but likely, won’t be or won’t be with sufficient detail. There are a ton of policy issues that should be discussed. Healthcare policy, in my opinion, should be very much a topic of open and frank discussion. I know I am a geek when it comes to economic … Read more
Nursing assistants are anticipated to experience the largest projected shortfall among all healthcare occupations analyzed, with an expected national shortage exceeding 73,000 assistants by 2028. This projection is based on a report by Mercer, which also predicts a nationwide deficit of over 100,000 healthcare workers by the same year. The demand for nursing assistants is … Read more
Late last year, CMS proposed a final rule to address the issue of coverage denials or service denials via prior authorization on behalf of Medicare Advantage Plans. Between providers and patients, coverage issues have significantly increased as beneficiary participation has increased (today, about 1 in 2 Medicare beneficiaries is in a Medicare Advantage plan). https://rhislop3.com/2023/11/09/cms-offers-fix-to-medicare-advantage-denials/ … Read more
With increasing older adult demand for hospital care, an ongoing wave of nursing home closures is creating post-acute access issues. Since 2020, 774 nursing homes have closed, and only seven new facilities opened in 2024. The primary driver for closure is a nationwide shortage of qualified clinical staff, exacerbated by the COVID pandemic. The pandemic … Read more
The U.S. spends more than any other world nation on healthcare – gross dollars and per capita. The systemic growth of spending continues at rate beyond inflation, spurred-on by an aging demographic and chronic diseases like diabetes and obesity. Cost growth in programs like Medicare is rampant but then again, so is fraud. Federal spending … Read more
The Accreditation Commission for Health Care, Inc. (ACHC) has launched two new specialty credentials for organizations providing home care and/or hospice. These programs are in line with the Age-Friendly Health Systems (Care) programs and initiatives started by The John A. Hartford Foundation and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), in partnership with the American Hospital Association (AHA) and … Read more
Last week I wrote about Fitch Ratings updates to their non-profit CCRC rating criteria. The expectation with the changes was that twelve percent of the rated CCRCs could be subject to Under Criteria Observation (UCO). What has occurred as a result of Fitch Ratings Update is that eighteen CCRCs have been impacted, falling under UCO. … Read more
Fitch Ratings has completed updates to its ratings criteria for not-for-profit continuing care retirement/life plan communities (CCRCs), enhancing the reflection of the risk profile for these rated entities. These changes come after a period of commentary on a draft released earlier this spring. The criteria modifications aim to more accurately represent the distinct risks associated … Read more
The mandatory Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM) will advance CMS prior work on value-based care models, including bundled care initiatives. The TEAM model (participation) will be mandatory for selected hospitals and participation “optional” for post-acute care providers. Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM) | CMS The Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM) is set to be a … Read more
Happy Monday! As summer begins to wind down, I figured an update on senior living marketing (rates, incentives, referrals, resident movement) was in order. The data I have comes primarily from NIC (National Investment Center) and Bild and Company (a senior living marketing firm) and it covers the first half of the year. Occupancy gains … Read more