“CMS Releases Updated Guidance on Medicaid Eligibility and Redeterminations,” AAMC   Quote: “On March 3, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released updated guidance regarding redeterminations of Medicaid beneficiary eligibility for when the public health emergency (PHE) ends. The PHE is currently set to expire on April 15, though it is expected that the administration will extend the expiration for at least an additional 90 days. …The updated guidance will allow states to initiate, rather than complete, redeterminations during the 12-month unwinding period to reestablish a regular schedule of renewals. Additionally, states will be provided an extra two months before they
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“Ken, Maddy, and Elyse: Age Wave’s Unbeatable Leadership Trio,” InsightsSuccess magazine   Quote: “In this wide-ranging interview, the leadership team of Age Wave—Co-founder and CEO Ken Dychtwald, PhD, Co-founder Maddy Dychtwald, and President Elyse Pellman—share what motivated them to start Age Wave—the world’s preeminent think tank on longevity, aging, and retirement issues, what market opportunities are hiding in plain sight, and so much more.”   LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform: Age Wave continues to make waves in the aging space. Congratulations to Ken and team.             Subscribe to GoldenCare
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“AHCA Releases Report Highlighting Unprecedented Economic Crisis in Nursing Homes; High Operating Costs and Stagnant Recovery Could Mean More Nursing Home Closures, Threatening Access to Care for Seniors,” AHCA/NCAL   Quote: “The American Health Care Association (AHCA) today released a new report outlining the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nation’s nursing homes. The report, produced by CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP), highlights that the cost of care and other operations in nursing homes is far exceeding their reimbursement rates, resulting in a projected 4.8 percent negative margin. The industry is also facing a historic workforce crisis and significant declines in occupancy
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“Illumifin to acquire LTCG to expand third-party administration capabilities,” by Ross Norton, GSA Business Report   Quote: “Illumifin, a Greenville-headquartered insurance third-party administration and software provider, has signed an agreement to acquire LTCG, a provider of administrative solutions and clinical services to the long-term care insurance industry. The transaction is expected to close within the next 60 days, according to a news release. … ‘Given our 25-year history as the leading partner for long-term care insurers and our deep customer relationships, the integrated company will allow us to build more strategic partnerships with our clients and help them enhance the customer experience
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“Trappings of LTC system leave operators trapped,” by Stephen A. Moses, McKnight’s LTC News   Quote: “Long-term care operators are trapped in a public financing system that pays too little, expects too much, rewards cronyism, discourages creativity, punishes profit making and disserves aging Americans. … In a free market, prices are set by supply and demand, not by government decree or pressure. So prices would reflect the kind, amount and quality of care options for which people are willing and able to pay. … Public assistance should be a last resort instead of the universal safety net its advocates demand
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“The pandemic pummeled long-term care – it may not recover quickly, experts warn,” by Rhitu Chatterjee, NPR   Quote: “Nursing homes and other long term care facilities have lost a record number of residents and staff to COVID-19 – representing about a quarter of all COVID deaths in this country. Now, the industry is suffering through a historic staffing shortage, further exacerbated by omicron. Workers have quit in record numbers since the pandemic started. And during the worst of omicron many frontline staff had to stay home because of breakthrough infections. … Researchers are concerned the situation could have a lasting impact
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“15 Most Expensive States for Long-Term Care: 2021,” by Michael S. Fischer, ThinkAdvisor   Quote: “The cost of long-term care services increased across all provider types in 2021 and increased more substantially in certain settings, according to Genworth’s annual cost-of-care survey, released last week.”   LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform: Happy “Twosday,” 2/22/22. How interesting. Remember how all the experts tried to convince us that home and community-based care was so much cheaper than institutional, i.e. nursing home care? They pushed to rebalance Medicaid from nursing homes to home care to save money. Oops. Turns out, as
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“Studying This Could Slash Your Alzheimer’s Risk, Experts Say,” by Lauren Gray, BestLife   Quote: “Certain habits that keep the brain active throughout life may help delay the onset of Alzheimer’s symptoms, some experts say. In particular, speaking two or more languages appears to have a positive effect on long-term cognitive health.”   LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform: Buenas tardes and c’est la vie.                 Subscribe to GoldenCare News  
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“​Taxpayers 65 and Older Eligible for Earned Income Tax Credit,” by Dena Bunis, AARP   Quote: “Millions of older Americans will be able to claim an earned income tax credit (EITC) when they file their 2021 tax returns this year and Lisa Marsh Ryerson, AARP executive vice president and president of AARP Foundation, told U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris Feb. 8 that AARP will raise awareness about the benefit and continue to urge that the EITC cap be permanently lifted. … Before the changes included in the rescue plan, individuals age 65 and older were not eligible for the EITC. For
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