“BREAKING: HHS awards nursing homes $523M in COVID-19 performance payments,” by Danielle Brown, McKnight’s LTC News     Quote: “Federal authorities announced Monday that it will be distributing $523 million in the second round of performance payments. More than 9,000 nursing homes that have successfully reduced COVID-19 related infections and deaths between September and October will receive the payments. … “This half a billion dollars in incentive payments will reward nursing homes that have shown results in their tireless work to keep their residents safe from the virus,” [HHS Secretary Alex Azar] added.” LTC Comment: Ironically, rewarding success in this way is tantamount
Read More

  “Cost of Care: Trends & Insights,” Genworth   Quote: “Since 2004, families across America have counted on us to help them understand the cost of care. Our research in 435 cities and towns across all 50 states has not only helped individuals plan for their own care but helped policymakers with forecasting and legislative reform. Over the years, we’ve tracked various trends that have come and gone but one thing hasn’t changed: long term care costs for nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and in-home care are higher than most people have planned for and only continue to rise.” LTC
Read More

“Genworth, China Oceanwide Push Deal Deadline Back,” by Allison Bell, ThinkAdvisor    Quote: “Genworth Financial Inc. and China Oceanwide Holdings Group Co. Ltd. today announced they have extended their merger negotiations agreement to Dec. 31. … China Oceanwide has been trying to acquire Genworth since October 2016. The companies said they now have received most of the regulatory approvals they need to consummate the $2.7 billion deal.” LTC Comment: Déjà vu all over again.  
Read More

“Medicaid is hemorrhaging $100B on Americans ineligible for the program,” by Brian Blase, New York Post   Quote: “The federal government’s improper Medicaid payments now exceed $100 billion a year. This means that more than one-in-four dollars flowing out of Medicaid — our nation’s third-largest government program — do not meet program rules. This staggering failure doesn’t just reduce health-care access for the truly eligible, it also harms taxpayers who fund it.” LTC Comment: This is an excellent piece by my co-author of “Nursing Homes, Coronavirus and Medicaid,” published June 1, 2020, in the Wall Street Journal. The problem of
Read More