“Why the coronavirus has taken so many lives in US nursing homes”

“Why the coronavirus has taken so many lives in US nursing homes,” by Dylan Scott, Vox Quote: “America has done a poor job funding and overseeing long-term care for decades, and there had not been adequate emergency planning for a crisis like the US is experiencing now with the coronavirus. And once the virus got here, the lack of a national strategy to ramp up Covid-19 testing in nursing homes and to provide protective equipment to staff made it easier for the virus to spread in these densely populated settings. Some state-level policy decisions, particularly to transfer recently recovered Covid-19
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Categories: Clippings, COVID-19, Industry News, and Long-Term Care.

“What to Consider Before Moving a Parent Into Assisted Living During COVID-19”

“What to Consider Before Moving a Parent Into Assisted Living During COVID-19,” by Andrea Cooper, Next Avenue   Quote: “Moving a parent into assisted living is an emotional decision in normal times. These days, families have to make especially complex calculations in the shadow of a virus that’s proven especially lethal for elders. About 45% of all COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. have occurred in long-term care facilities, according to The Kaiser Family Foundation. Most of the widely reported outbreaks have been in nursing homes, which differ substantially from assisted living communities. … Concerns about moving into assisted living in 2020
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Categories: Clippings, COVID-19, Industry News, and Long-Term Care.

“The Road Map to Maximizing Long Term Medicaid Coverage During the COVID-19 Emergency”

“The Road Map to Maximizing Long Term Medicaid Coverage During the COVID-19 Emergency,” by Nancy Levitin and Gregory Choi, Provider   Quote: “For now, applicants and their representative need only attest to the fact that the financial eligibility criteria of New York’s Medicaid program are met to qualify for medical assistance. Facility representatives can now sign applications on behalf of their residents and simply note that they are signing ‘due to the COVID-19 Emergency.’ … Any loss of Medicaid eligibility during the COVID-19 Emergency should be challenged, and a request made for coverage to be retroactively restored. … Additionally, the CARES Act
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Categories: Clippings, COVID-19, Industry News, and Long-Term Care.

“COVID-19 pandemic encourages consumers to plan for long-term care: survey”

“COVID-19 pandemic encourages consumers to plan for long-term care: survey,” by Kimberly Bonvissuto, McKnight’s Senior Living   Quote: “The COVID-19 pandemic served as a wake-up call to Americans about their mortality, inspiring three out of four adults to make changes for a better future — including saving to pay for future long-term care in the setting of their choice, according to a new Genworth Financial survey. Genworth’s COVID-19 Consumer Sentiment Survey of 1,000 adults aged 18 or more years from across the country looked at the effects of COVID-19 on Americans’ lives and what they think about long-term care and financial security.
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Categories: Clippings, COVID-19, Industry News, and Long-Term Care.

“Misconceptions about Paying for Long-term Care Part 2 of 3”

“Misconceptions about Paying for Long-term Care Part 2 of 3,” by Tammy Weber, Marshall, Parker & Weber, LLC   Quote: “Misconception #2:  “The nursing home takes my residence if I want Medicaid” The personal residence is considered an exempt resource for Medicaid purposes as long as the Medicaid applicant expresses an intent to return to that residence and the equity value of the residence does not exceed $595,000.00 (2020), or the applicant’s spouse or dependent relative lives in the residence and the equity value is below the maximum amount.  An exempt resource means that the value of the residence is
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Categories: Clippings, Industry News, and Long-Term Care.

“HHS to distribute $25B for Medicaid, safety-net providers”

“HHS to distribute $25B for Medicaid, safety-net providers,” by Elise Reuter, MedCity News   Quote: “The Department of Health and Human Services will distribute another $25 billion in funding to healthcare providers, with an emphasis on helping facilities that serve low-income patients. The agency will distribute $15 billion to providers that participate in Medicaid and CHIP programs, and another $10 billion to safety-net hospitals.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform): Thank goodness the government has plenty of money to spend for this purpose. Imagine if we borrowed huge sums like this, but had to
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Categories: Clippings, Industry News, and Long-Term Care.

“What Albany did to seniors when we weren’t looking”

“What Albany did to seniors when we weren’t looking,” by Sanford R. Altman, Times Herald-Record   Quote: “For the first time ever, Community (Homecare) Medicaid will have its own look back period. That’s 30 months of financials to submit even if it may only cover a few hours of homecare a day.  And if it takes months for approval instead of the weeks it formerly took, you will not get care from any private homecare agency while you are waiting. You will be on your own for as long as it takes.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for
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Categories: Clippings, Industry News, and Long-Term Care.

“COVID-19 pandemic encourages consumers to plan for long-term care: survey”

“COVID-19 pandemic encourages consumers to plan for long-term care: survey,” by Kimberly Bonvissuto, McKnight’s Senior Living    Quote: “The COVID-19 pandemic served as a wake-up call to Americans about their mortality, inspiring three out of four adults to make changes for a better future — including saving to pay for future long-term care in the setting of their choice, according to a new Genworth Financial survey. Genworth’s COVID-19 Consumer Sentiment Survey of 1,000 adults aged 18 or more years from across the country looked at the effects of COVID-19 on Americans’ lives and what they think about long-term care and financial security.
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Categories: Clippings, COVID-19, Industry News, and Long-Term Care.

“Financial Crisis of Nursing Home Industry”

  “COVID-19 pandemic encourages consumers to plan for long-term care: survey,” by Kimberly Bonvissuto, McKnight’s Senior Living   Quote: “The COVID-19 pandemic served as a wake-up call to Americans about their mortality, inspiring three out of four adults to make changes for a better future — including saving to pay for future long-term care in the setting of their choice, according to a new Genworth Financial survey. Genworth’s COVID-19 Consumer Sentiment Survey of 1,000 adults aged 18 or more years from across the country looked at the effects of COVID-19 on Americans’ lives and what they think about long-term care and financial
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Categories: Clippings, Industry News, and Long-Term Care.

“Offer Appropriate Coverage for LTCi”

  “Offer Appropriate Coverage for LTCi,” by Romeo Raabe, NAIFA   Quote: “Quite commonly, prospects do not realize how little insurance they need for LTCi. When someone requires care with day to day activities or has a cognitive impairment, his/her lifestyle can change significantly. If one no longer drives there will be fewer cars, boats, motorcycles, 4 wheelers, snowmobiles, tractors, etc. There will also be less golf, travel, and socializing. It is good to do fun things, but when one can no longer do them, much less money will be spent on these activities.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses,
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Categories: Clippings, Industry News, and Long-Term Care.