Articles and Blogs

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) has given itself an extra year to review and assess skilled nursing facility proposed regulations issued in 2019. The 2019 Proposed Rule aimed to increase the ability of health care professionals to apportion resources to improve resident care by eliminating or reducing requirements that could impede... READ MORE

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) has given surveyors new rules and updates to allow surveyors to add extra attention and increase oversight in nursing homes regarding the quality of care and quality of life for residents. On June 29, 2022, the Quality, Safety & Oversight Group at CMS issued a memorandum... READ MORE

On March 1, 2022, President Biden outlined his plan to increase the quality of patient care, resident safety, regulations, fines and ownership transparency in skilled nursing care during his State of the Union address. The day before, on February 28, 2022, President Biden released a fact sheet titled “FACT SHEET: Protecting Seniors and People... READ MORE

As questions, concerns and frustration continue for skilled nursing facilities and families on visitation at facilities, CMS released additional recommendations, clarifications and guidance on a host of issues that skilled nursing providers face as they encounter certain visitation scenarios. On February 2, 2022, CMS updated and added several questions and answers in its December... READ MORE

Amidst a nationwide nursing and skilled nursing facility staffing crisis, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) announced that additional information regarding nursing home staff numbers will be added to the January 2022 CMS Care Compare website. The staffing data will impact the Five-Star Quality Rating calculations in the middle of 2022. Skilled... READ MORE

Facing further confusion from skilled nursing facilities and families amidst the current spike in COVID cases in the United States, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) released additional best practices and addressed more issues that skilled nursing providers should follow as they encounter certain visitation scenarios. On January 6, 2022, CMS updated... READ MORE

Note: This article has been revised to include information on the Group 2 states and Texas as of January 25, 2022. Nursing homes face possible citations, civil monetary penalties, denial of payments and—as a final measure—termination of participation from the Medicare and Medicaid programs by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) as... READ MORE

In an effort to clear the fog created by its recent skilled nursing facility guidance for visitation, CMS released a list of best practices and key aspects of visitation that skilled nursing providers should follow as they encounter certain scenarios. On December 23, 2021, CMS released several questions and answers in “Nursing Home Visitation... READ MORE

With just 10 words, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) announced sweeping changes to nursing home visitation rules – “Visitation is now allowed for all residents at all times.” On November 12, 2021, the Quality, Safety & Oversight Group at CMS issued a revised memorandum entitled “Nursing Home Visitation” (“CMS Visitation Memo”) that announced... READ MORE

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) wants surveyors to add extra attention and increase oversight in nursing homes regarding the quality of care and quality of life for residents. On November 12, 2021, the Quality, Safety & Oversight Group at CMS issued a memorandum entitled “Changes to COVID-19 Survey Activities and Increased Oversight in... READ MORE