Articles and Blogs

On April 8, 2021, the Quality, Safety & Oversight Group at Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued a memorandum entitled “Updates to Long-Term Care (LTC) Emergency Regulatory Waivers Issued in Response to COVID-19” (“Blanket Waiver Update Memo”) that announced the termination of several blanket waivers for skilled nursing facilities (“SNFs”) related to resident... READ MORE

Skilled nursing facilities (“SNFs”) are facing many challenges as their residents and staff encounter COVID-19 diagnosis, care and testing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, CMS and state departments of health have issued and revised interim final regulations, waivers, quality care directives, orders and multiple guidance memos. In early June 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice... READ MORE

On October 12, 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom signed California Senate Bill 172 into law (“Act”). The Act, known as the “Keep Our Seniors Safe Act,” makes changes to California’s Health and Safety Code by adding firearm storage requirements for firearms that are held by California residential care facilities for the elderly, more commonly known... READ MORE

This is another article in a series discussing the complete overhaul of Part 483 to Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations the Requirements for States and Long-Term Care Facilities (“Final Regulations”) by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”). To view other articles in this series, click here. Beginning on November 28,... READ MORE

In the wake of the salacious Harvey Weinstein allegations, the topic of sexual harassment is making the headlines…again. The Weinstein story followed right on the heels of the various (and seemingly ongoing) harassment-related woes of Fox News, which, in turn, followed on the heels of the developments that came to light on the presidential... READ MORE

On September 14, 2012, CMS published a Survey and Certification letter addressing “Hand in Hand: A Training Series for Nursing Homes.” This training is in response to Section 6121 of the Affordable Care Act, which requires that CMS ensure that nurse aides receive regular training on caring for residents with dementia and prevention of... READ MORE

Since 2005, a group of associations known as the Long Term and Post Acute Care (LTPAC) Health Information Technology Collaborative (the Collaborative) have hosted the annual LTPAC Health IT Summit to discuss and advance health IT issues for long LTPAC providers.  Following the Summit, the Collaborative publishes a Road Map that identifies the progress... READ MORE

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) just released a report on the failure of nursing facilities to develop and implement adequate emergency preparedness and response programs.  The “Gaps Continue to Exist in Nursing Home Emergency Preparedness and Response During Disasters: 2007-2010” report is the summation of an OIG study to assess emergency preparedness and... READ MORE

CMS recently published a Survey & Certification Memorandum (S&C:11-35-NH) detailing progress in the implementation of Section 6121 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  Section 6121 of the ACA mandates enhanced nurse aide training in nursing homes.  The enhanced training focuses on two areas: 1) how to care for residents with dementia, and 2) how... READ MORE