Post-Acute

Almost 3 million older Americans were dropped from Medicare Advantage plans after insurance carriers pulled out of their counties, according to a recent analysis. The analysis, published in JAMA, analyzed the impacts of insurers dropping MA plans in 2026. MA…

Nearly $500 million in Utah Medicaid funds meant for patient care was used on administrative fees, The Salt Lake Tribune reported April 4. The state auditor report highlighted gaps with a Skilled Nursing Facility Upper Payment Limit Medicaid program that…

Post-acute care utilization is projected to increase 31% over the next decade, though that growth is no longer directly tied to hospital discharges, according to an April 2 report from Vizient and Kaufman Hall.  Researchers from the healthcare consulting and…

CMS is implementing new oversight measures for hospice programs, which include an updated scoring system, state-specific oversight and changes to election statement addenda. The new scoring system is part of an effort to “strengthen oversight, improve transparency for patient families…

CMS on April 2 released four proposed payment rules covering skilled nursing facilities, hospices, inpatient psychiatric facilities and inpatient rehabilitation facilities for fiscal year 2027. Twelve things to know: Skilled nursing facilities 1. CMS proposes increasing SNF payment rates by…

A Brown University study found that administering preventive antiviral treatment to a large share of nursing home residents during a flu outbreak was linked to 21% fewer hospitalizations. The study, published March 30 in JAMA Internal Medicine, analyzed 404 influenza…

Tampa (Fla.) General Hospital opened a hospital-at-home program for patients in Citrus County. The TGH Crystal River’s hospital-at-home program will enroll patients who are seen in the ED or admitted to the hospital with conditions including congestive heart failure, urinary…

About two-thirds of mental health and substance use disorder treatment facilities, also known as “mixed” facilities, accepted older patients through Medicare, compared to 44% of SUD treatment-only facilities, creating access challenges for those who rely on the program, according to a March brief from…

Organizations representing thousands of U.S. hospitals have proposed federal policy reforms for the long-term care hospital market, including changing the “dual-rate” payment system.  Long-term care hospitals provide specialized post-acute care. Healthcare leaders and organizations have long raised concerns about these…

A federal bill proposed March 23 by Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pa., would deny Medicare funding to hospitals and nursing homes currently owned and operated by private equity firms. The Taking Back Our Hospitals Act…