Companies and cities/states regularly jockey for federal Medicaid money. They will often twist themselves into pretzels to grab as much “free” money as possible. The Medicaid formula, where the federal government matches or exceeds the monetary amount allocated by the state, encourages musical chairs. That is, state and city governments work hard to acquire Medicaid … Continue reading
The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (DPW) is fining and threatening to close an independent living apartment complex over regulatory issues. The complex is part of a CCRC (Continuum of Care Community) that also offers assisted living and skilled nursing services. It’s place in the CCRC is not soothing the ruffled feathers of the DPW bureaucracy. … Continue reading
Last week the New York State Legislature passed a bill that would allow assisted living homes to keep residents who previously qualified for nursing homes. Buffalo’s Business Journal thinks this is good news. Is it really? The bill says residents can age in place in their current communities. It would allow assisted living homes to … Continue reading
Managing a nursing home is tough. Managing a nursing home while turning a profit is even tougher. So, when a nursing home does close, it’s hardly a surprise. Nursing homes must adhere to strict state laws that dictate staffing levels. Most nursing homes accept Medicaid which has been reducing payments to nursing homes since 2011. … Continue reading
America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) published a study two years ago, tracking long-term care insurance (LTC) buyers between 1990 and 2010. They also compared buyers with the general population. Although most assisted living communities and home care agencies mention LTC insurance as a means to pay for their services, few people buy it. For those interested in … Continue reading
Tennessee Supreme Court rules against Assisted Living Company Tennessee’s Supreme Court reversed a decision by the Appeals Court and found Americare Systems, Inc. liable for the staffing shortage that led to a resident’s death. The case first went to trial in April 2010. The plaintiff’s were the daughters of a woman (Ms. Farrar) who died … Continue reading
A potential guest worker program that would allow low-skilled immigrants to enter the U.S. legally and accept low-paying jobs w standard wages is gaining publicity. Eight members of the U.S. Senate are working on a visa program that would allow up to 200,000 low-skilled immigrants to enter the U.S. legally. The newly arrived immigrants would … Continue reading
Developers of assisted living communities face a significant hurdle whenever the local planning commission challenges their projects. The planning board is a political entity; its members are either elected or appointed and as such they often respond to public pressure. If a proposed project attracts vocal opponents, developers will need to make alliances that will counter bad … Continue reading
If you’ve ever thought about using your dog’s natural good nature to put a smile on the face of local seniors in a nursing home, you should understand the procedures involved first. The activities director of the community you’re thinking about would be the first person to call. They will tell you what’s required before … Continue reading
Although the pension programs available to senior citizens are prominently mentioned on most assisted living company websites as a means of payment, few eligible veterans are using them. This NY Times article quotes a Veterans Affairs spokesman who says less than 5% of the 1.7 million eligible seniors and their dependents are using the benefits. … Continue reading
