“Problems persist at Washington hospitals due to lack of long-term care options,” by Erica Zucco, King5 Quote: “Harborview Medical Center is currently diverting non-emergent patients as the hospital copes with overcrowding. Other local hospitals face similar concerns. … The hospital said it had 560 patients in a hospital set up for 413, and that 100 of those patients are medically stable and in need of long-term, post-acute care, but have not yet been able to be transferred. … LeadingAge Washington, which advocates for not-for-profit and mission-driven senior care and housing organizations, said current Medicaid rates make it difficult for long-term care
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“Law in the Marketplace: Do you need Medicaid planning?,” by John Cunningham, Concord Monitor Quote: “It is true, however, that even if we have substantial assets and income, we may be able to benefit from coverage of our nursing home costs by Medicaid. This federal aid program mainly benefits only low-income individuals and families. However, with careful planning, Medicaid may cover some or all your nursing home costs regardless of your wealth.”   LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform: Did you think Medicaid required impoverishment? Silly you for believing the “researchers” who say so. Still
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“Filling The Gaps: The Role And Value Of Supplemental Benefits In Medicare Advantage,” by Allison Rizer and Laura Benzing, Health Affairs Quote: “While important debate continues on the value of managed care generally, beneficiaries are overwhelmingly satisfied with Medicare Advantage, enrollment in the program is increasing year over year, and participating managed care plans are offering a rapidly growing array of new and innovative benefits. These innovative benefits are a key feature of the Medicare Advantage program that differentiates it from traditional Medicare and a key reason for the program’s popularity among Medicare beneficiaries. As policy makers debate the future role
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“Facing stagnant Medicaid rates, this state has lost 10 percent of SNF beds in 2022,” by John Hall, McKnight’s LTC News Quote: “The loss of seven nursing homes and hundreds of beds in a short period of time has set healthcare officials in Montana reeling, even as the state is trying to regain its footing following the brunt of the COVID pandemic. It’s part of a trend that has seen more than 1,000 nursing homes close since 2015, industry officials said. In just the past six months, Montana has lost approximately 10% of its nursing home beds. Operators of the
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“As new Alzheimer’s drugs have failed, scientists are shifting focus to other potential causes,” by Berkeley Lovelace, Jr., NBC News Quote: “As yet another Alzheimer’s drug targeting plaque buildup in the brain fails to improve cognition in patients, leading scientists said a significant shift is underway in the search for effective treatments for the disease. The new direction in Alzheimer’s research — away from focusing solely on beta-amyloid plaques to other potential causes, including brain inflammation and conditions related to diabetes — comes from growing evidence that multiple factors contribute to the development of the disease.”       LTC Comment, Stephen
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“American Caregivers: The Time To Plan Is Now,” Advisor Magazine   Quote: “Fidelity Investments® today released its latest American Caregivers study, revealing 7 out of 10 caregivers are so focused on caregiving duties they put off addressing their own needs. … Forty-four percent of caregivers took on responsibilities by default rather than volunteering or through family conversations. On the financial front, a majority rely primarily on a combination of their own or a family members’ work income (68%) and government benefits (52%) to pay for care.”       LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform: More
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“American Caregivers: The Time To Plan Is Now,” Advisor Magazine Quote: “Fidelity Investments® today released its latest American Caregivers study, revealing 7 out of 10 caregivers are so focused on caregiving duties they put off addressing their own needs. … Forty-four percent of caregivers took on responsibilities by default rather than volunteering or through family conversations. On the financial front, a majority rely primarily on a combination of their own or a family members’ work income (68%) and government benefits (52%) to pay for care.”   LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform: More and more reasons
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“Funding, unionization needed to improve wages, working conditions in long-term care: report,” by Kimberly Bonvissuto, McKnight’s Senior Living  Quote: “Expanding public funding, increasing the minimum wage and unionizing workers are the first steps toward improving wages and working conditions in the residential long-term care industry, according to the authors of a new report. ‘The state of the residential long-term care industry,’ from Washington, DC-based think tank Economic Policy Institute, covers employment trends in the industry and suggests interventions to try to ensure that long-term care services are accessible, affordable, safe and enriching for those who need them.”       LTC
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“Low pay, poor working conditions common for long-term care workers: report,” by Kathleen Steele Galvin, McKnight’s Senior Living Quote: “Low pay and poor working conditions are the norm for workers in long-term care, according to a report published Wednesday by the think tank Economic Policy Institute. … Their key findings: 9% of long-term care workers are women. 4% are Black women, and 12.8% are immigrant women. $15.22 is the median hourly pay rate, below the US median hourly wage of $20.07. 2% live in poverty, a higher percentage than the poverty rate for all workers (5.3%). 9% are covered by a union
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“​​​​​​​​​Asset Limit Changes for Non-MAGI Medi-Cal,” California Department of Health Care Services Quote: “Beginning July 1, 2022, a new law in California increased the asset limit for Non-Modified Adjusted Gross Income (Non-MAGI) Medi-Cal programs. Non-MAGI programs generally provide health care for seniors, people with disabilities, and individuals who are in nursing facilities, as well as some other specialty groups. The increased asset limits allow a larger number of applicants to become eligible for Medi-Cal benefits, and allow qualified beneficiaries to retain a larger amount of non-exempt assets and still be eligible for Medi-Cal. All other Non-MAGI Medi-Cal rules regarding the treatment of
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