“Elder Law Guys: When long-term care is looming, there’s a short window to get financial affairs in order,” by Ulian Gray and Frank Petrich, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette   Quote: “Once Medicare stops coverage, the average daily cost of skilled care in Pennsylvania is over $480! Yes, under the current rules, the nursing home resident will be out-of-pocket over $14,000 a month. That puts a serious dent in your financial and retirement plan. There is relief through coverage under Medical Assistance (Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program). However, the rules are complex and financial eligibility is often difficult to obtain without the help of someone
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“Here’s How Long-Term Care Planning Is Changing,” by Allison Bell, ThinkAdvisor   Quote: “Life-LTC hybrids are still hot. Insurers are putting more focus on how couples share benefits. Caregiver support is becoming an industry in its own right.”   LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform: The latest from Allison Bell.         Subscribe to GoldenCare News  
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  “As Medicare Advantage grows, experts say, so do hard-to-fight denials,” by Kimberly Marselas, McKnight’s LTC News   Quote: “While the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has been winding down certain waivers tied to the public health emergency (PHE), the agency has been noticeably silent about what could be the most impactful of the pandemic-related waivers – suspension of the three-day stay requirement. Industry leaders aren’t holding out much hope that the waiver will stick around on a more permanent basis. … Suspension of the three-day stay requirement allows Medicare patients to be discharged to a skilled nursing
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  “As Medicare Advantage grows, experts say, so do hard-to-fight denials,” by Kimberly Marselas, McKnight’s LTC News   Quote: “In addition to sagging Medicare Advantage payment rates, some skilled nursing providers also find themselves routinely doing battle to get paid for services they’ve already delivered. The reimbursement challenges are affecting the bottom line, and in some places, they’re starting to limit patients’ access to care, operators and billing, experts warned. Not only are many seeing managed care plans increase payment denials, some observers say they’re often doing it without justifiable cause.”   LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term
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“Strategies for Paying for Long-Term Care – Lunch and Learn,” by Kim Searles   Quote: “Jackson Creek Senior Living will host Kim Searles, Director of Education from Beneficent, to present ]Strategies for Paying for Long-Term Care’ on Thursday, May 19 at 11 a.m. Based in Colorado Springs, Beneficent has assisted more than 3,500 families to explore financial programs to help pay for senior care options including assisted living, adult day care, home care, and nursing home services.”        LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform: I saw this ad. It looked harmless. But I
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“Reports: Feds will extend public health emergency,” by Danielle Brown, McKnight’s LTC News   Quote: “Several COVID-related waivers and flexibilities important to long-term care providers will remain in place at least through July after it was revealed the Biden administration plans to extend the public health emergency declaration again. Several national media outlets reported Tuesday that the Department of Health and Human Services will extend the public health emergency declaration.  The administration has said it would give at least a 60-day notice before ending the public health emergency.”        LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform: Extending the PHE
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“Sending hopeful messages about state’s long-term-care law doesn’t make it a good deal; exemptions continue,” by Elizabeth Hovde, Washington Policy Center   Quote: “While state marketing persists to make the WA Cares Fund look like a good deal, exemption applications that were available to people with long-term-care plans of their own continue to trickle in. I expect the numbers to rise mildly each month until the end of the year and then get a big boost in January 2023 when new exemption categories are allowed to apply for exemption and keep more of their income. As of May 16: Total exemption applications received: 477,911 Total
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“54 percent increase in low-care nursing home residents presents opportunity for assisted living,” by Lois A. Bowers, McKnight’s Senior Living   Quote: “The percentage of nursing home residents who are considered “low care” increased 54% between 2019 and 2020, representing an opportunity for assisted living providers, according to a new report. Low-care nursing home residents are those who require no physical assistance in bed mobility and activities of daily living such as transferring, toileting and eating. Such residents may be able to live in less restrictive environments and receive less-intensive care in assisted living communities and other alternative settings or
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