“A Permanent Pandemic Means a Huge Medicaid Expansion,” by Joel Zinberg and Gary D. Alexander, Wall Street Journal Quote: “Covid is now endemic, yet the Biden administration keeps extending the public-health emergency. Its goal is to preserve the expansion of the welfare state through Medicaid, even though large and growing numbers of enrollees are ineligible for the benefit. “Medicaid, the federal-state entitlement that provides health insurance to nearly 1 in 4 Americans, ballooned during the pandemic. Enrollments had declined in 2018 and 2019, but jumped by 15.9 million—about 25%—between February 2020 and February 2022. According to the Centers for Medicare
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  “A Small World Is a Big Solution for Workforce Woes,” by Joanne Kaldy, Provider Quote: “Sometimes we find ideas in our own backyard. Other times they come across the ocean or halfway around the world. Increasingly, post-acute and long term care leaders are finding physicians, nurses, frontline workers, and other staff in numerous countries. While immigration isn’t a panacea, it’s one promising solution to the workforce shortage.”   LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform: OK, I get it now. The reason our southern border is open to all comers who can wade or swim
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  “US Nursing Homes Face Closure Risks From Staffing Shortages,” by Lauren Coleman-Lochner, Bloomberg Quote: “Almost three quarters of nursing homes say they’re at risk of closing due to staff shortages, with more than half operating at a loss, according to a survey. If things don’t improve, most fear that resources won’t be enough to keep them in business for more than a year. … The staff shortfalls are forcing homes to turn away potential residents at a time when occupancy rates are already far lower than before the pandemic.”   LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term
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  “With 41% leap in nursing home costs, ‘doing nothing’ not an option: AHCA,” by Kimberly Marselas, McKnight’s LTC News Quote: “After two years in which nursing homes have been pilloried in the media and come under increased regulatory scrutiny, the nation’s top provider organization hopes two days of in-person meetings with federal lawmakers will usher in a course correction.”   LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform: Asking the government for help is like requesting a tow from the truck that ran you off the road. Far better if they take my advice in the
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  “Long-term care’s mortal risk,” by Stephen A. Moses, McKnight’s LTC News Quote: “While everyone is preoccupied with the [long-term care] profession’s traditional government funding sources and the regulatory obstructions they impose, no one is paying attention to the real possibility that this long-established structure may soon collapse. Even if you think that outcome is unlikely, shouldn’t someone at least be hedging the possibility? Let’s ask: What are the vulnerabilities and what should be done now just in case?”   LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform: I agree with Jamie Dimon that an economic “hurricane”
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