The National Labor Relations Board has filed a complaint against Cincinnati-based CommuniCare, a post-acute care network, for allegedly attempting to enforce stay-or-pay employment agreements.

The U.S. national rate of successful observed discharges to a patient's community or home from a long-term care facility between Oct. 1, 2021, and Sept. 9, 2023, was 18.05, according to CMS data published Sept. 25. 

Effective May 1, 2025, CMS will require requires nursing homes to disclose more detailed ownership information as part of an Affordable Care Act final rule issued Nov. 15, 2023.

Birmingham, Ala.-based Encompass Health, the largest owner and operator of rehabilitation hospitals in the U.S., recently appointed new CEOs at two of its facilities. 

As part of its bankruptcy restructuring, Brockway, Pa.-based Guardian Health has sold eight of the system's skilled nursing facilities to GBK Eight. 

Temple Terrace, Fla.-based Chapters Health System, a nonprofit hospice care network, is expanding into the Western U.S. with the launch of Chapters Health West. 

San Clemente, Calif.-based CareTrust REIT will acquire 31 skilled nursing facilities in Tennessee and Alabama for approximately $500 million.

Birmingham, Ala.-based Encompass Health has appointed Mindy Hong as CEO of the Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Arlington (Texas). 

As part of her presidential campaign platform, Vice President Kamala Harris has proposed expanding Medicare coverage to include at-home care. Since the Oct. 8 announcement, industry experts and organizations have expressed support for the plan. 

The American Hospital Association filed an amicus brief Oct. 24 in support of a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District Court of Texas challenging the federal government's nursing staffing level mandate. 

CMS has released fiscal year 2025 guidance for its State Performance Standards System. The SPSS oversees the performance of the state survey agencies that ensure Medicare and Medicaid providers and facilities are compliant with federal requirements. 

Grand Blanc, Mich.-based McLaren Health Care will close its Bay City, Mich.-based long-term acute care hospital, McLaren Bay Special Care, on Dec. 22. The health system is moving forward with plans to build a multi-specialty outpatient campus on the site. 

The national ratio of Clostridium difficile infections reported by inpatient rehabilitation facilities across the U.S. between Oct. 1, 2022, and Sept. 30, 2023, was 0.408, according to data released by CMS on Sept. 25.

Private equity firm Cascade Capital Group has purchased 29 Iowa nursing homes for $85 million, making it the largest nursing home sale in the state's history, according to an Oct. 21 report from the Iowa Capital Dispatch.

In partnership with caregiving platform Archangels, The Joint Commission has launched a Care Badge initiative aimed at supporting unpaid caregivers.

Peoria, Ill.-based OSF HealthCare is renaming one of its long-term rehabilitation hospitals to better align with hospital names throughout the system.

The Gerontology Institute at Atlanta-based Georgia State University has partnered with older adult care provider A.G. Rhodes to address the nursing home workforce shortage through the establishment of the Scholars With A.G. Rhodes at GSU program.

Bob Dean Jr., a former Louisiana nursing home owner and operator, agreed to pay another $8.2 million to resolve federal allegations that he misappropriated and misused nursing home assets and income before and during the landfall of Hurricane Ida in August 2021.

On Oct. 9, Providence said it would sunset the augmentative and alternative communication specialty service at Providence Home Health Portland, resulting in the elimination of three speech-language pathologist positions. The three affected workers remain employed through Nov. 8, and the health system has paused the program end date pending collaboration with key stakeholders, a Providence spokesperson told Becker's. 

The Joint Commission has revised its home health agency accreditation survey process to align with similar CMS guideline updates published March 15.