“U.S. Household Net Worth Jumps to a Record on Equities, Housing,” by Reade Pickert, ThinkAdvisor     Quote: “US. household net worth jumped to a fresh record in the fourth quarter on rising stock prices and higher home values. Household net worth increased by $5.3 trillion, or 3.7%, after a more moderate gain in the third quarter, a Federal Reserve report showed Thursday. The fourth-quarter advance pushed net worth to more than $150 trillion. The value of real estate held by households rose by $1.5 trillion and the value of equity holdings climbed $2.5 trillion.”   LTC Comment, Stephen
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  “The silver tsunami factor: Creating a disaster recovery plan for the impending healthcare devastation ”  by Cynthia Morton and Therasa Bell, McKnight’s LTC News    Quote: “The year 2030 marks the proverbial ‘run-up’ of the silver tsunami, with an important demographic turning point in U.S. history, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In less than seven years, baby boomers will be older than age 65. In less than a decade, ALL baby boomers will be older than age 65 and for the first time in U.S. history, seniors will outnumber children. An aging population means our overburdened healthcare sector will
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  “No Viable Path for Many SNFs to Improve, Avoid Penalties in Value-Based Purchasing,” by Amy Stulick, Skilled Nursing News   Quote: “The value-based purchasing program (VBP) may not be offering sufficient incentives for nursing homes to improve, particularly for low-performing facilities in areas with underserved populations. Only 0.7% of poor-performing skilled nursing facilities were able to improve enough to avoid a financial penalty under VBP, a JAMA study found – the program didn’t “offer a viable path” for such facilities to avoid penalties using readmission rate data, JAMA researchers said.”   LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care
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  “Spending on Medicaid HCBS totals nearly $116B in FY 2020, report finds,” by Liza Berger, McKnight’s Home Care Quote: “Spending on Medicaid home- and community-based services (HCBS) totaled $115.8 billion in fiscal year 2020, according to a new report released Friday from the Kaiser Family Foundation. Waivers make up over two-thirds of total HCBS spending, while spending under a state plan authority is under one-third of total HCBS spending, the report said. States continue to rebalance long-term services and supports spending toward home- and community-based LTSS, the report indicated. In fiscal year 2019, HCB LTSS made up 59% of total
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“Reform policies ‘double down’ on decades-long failures, LTC physicians warn,” by Danielle Brown, McKnight’s LTC News   Quote: “The Biden administration’s approach toward nursing home reform uses the unsuccessful and ‘punitive’ tactics that haven’t proved to advance quality for years, according to a top industry group.”   LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform: Unfunded quality demands are the administration’s modus operandi.               Subscribe to GoldenCare News  
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“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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