Systemic Problems The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed a failure to protect nursing home residents and staff. As a nursing home lawyer for over 25 years, these failures were long-standing and systemic. Persistent problems with nursing home care existed for years. Often because of too few and inadequately trained frontline staff. Solutions do exist. Safe staffing, transparency,
The Department of Health and Human Services delays reporting requirements. DHHS announced last month that nursing homes will now have a longer grace period to report how they used Provider Relief Fund payments. HHS delayed the reporting deadline for healthcare providers because Congress passed the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act. This added another
CMS announced new regulations this week about how, when, and why investigators conduct an infection control survey. CMS revised the criteria that requires states to conduct the specific surveys, the agency in a memo to state survey agencies. Since June, CMS required states to conduct onsite infection control-focused surveys within three to five days with three
Corporate Transparency Act Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act. This annual bill relates to U.S. defense spending. This year includes a measure known as the Corporate Transparency Act. The bill requires that the true, human owners of companies formed in the U.S. disclose their identities at the point of formation and upon any change—effectively banning
Oversight A new government report is calling on CMS to “quickly” implement recommendations made by a federal nursing home commission. The Government Accountability Office released the new report. The report details “urgent actions needed” by the federal government to ensure an effective COVID-19 response. Many could save tens of thousands of live sin the next
WBEZ analyzed data of all nursing homes in Illinois. They found that ownership affects the quality of care and ability to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. “But a WBEZ analysis of Illinois and federal data has found that the coronavirus’ spread through the industry has not been even. Nursing homes that operate for profit