Literature Review

Waterbury nursing home residents, caregivers push back against plan to close facility NBC Waterbury, CT; by Amanda Pitts; 9/17/24 A nursing home in Waterbury could close in less than 30 days after losing its federal funding. Abbott Terrace Health Center is home to 180 people and employs 287 caregivers, who are newly unionized and pushing back against the closure. ... The funding was pulled by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) after the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) found that the facility didn’t meet safety requirements. It has left residents to find a new place to live and caregivers to find a new place to work.

Could this ‘beautiful story’ be the story of the year?McKnight's Senior Living; by Lois A. Bowers; 9/16/24When we look back on 2024, we might just call the story of Casey’s Pond the feel-good story of the year in senior living. Or if not the story, certainly one of them. Casey’s Pond, a continuing care retirement community in Steamboat Springs, CO, entered receivership in July, after not being able to pay off millions of dollars in bonds that had been used to construct the community in 2013 and not being able to find a buyer... But along the way, the city of Steamboat Springs made an emergency authorization of $2.5 million to try to save the CCRC, and a local community foundation started a “quiet fundraising campaign” that resulted in millions of dollars in commitments from dozens of donors so that bondholder requirements could be met... Now, the ink is dry on that purchase agreement, which as of Sept. 3 was expected to close within 30 days.

Kaiser Permanente to exit skilled nursing business Modern Healthcare; by Diane Eastabrrok; 9/11/24 Kaiser Permanente is getting out of the nursing home business, closing its lone skilled nursing facility, a spokesperson confirmed in an email Wednesday. The nonprofit health system is shutting down the 176-bed nursing home in San Leandro, California in November, which will displace approximately 250 workers, the spokesperson said. He added that staff are working to transition patients either to their homes or to other skilled nursing facilities in the area.

Parent company of three area senior living facilities files bankruptcy Springfield Business Journal, Springfield, IL; by Michelle Ownbey; 9/11/24  Three Springfield-area facilities that serve seniors have been listed for sale as part of a recent bankruptcy filing, but representatives from the parent company say no closures or immediate changes are planned. Midwest Christian Villages, Inc., doing business as Christian Horizons, recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and announced plans to restructure. The St. Louis-based nonprofit operates 12 communities with independent living, assisted living and memory care services and also has short-term rehabilitation and long-term health care centers. ... A statement posted on Christian Horizons’ website notes: “A series of events has put significant pressure on the company’s finances” and lists resident and patient volumes sharply declining at the outset of the pandemic, staffing shortages and increased costs to procure goods and services as factors. 

Hospitals target Medicare Advantage in DSH payment lawsuitModern Healthcare; by Alex Kacik; 9/11/24Hospitals allege in a new lawsuit that the federal government unlawfully changed Medicare disproportionate share hospital payment calculations to include care provided to Medicare Advantage patients, and facilities lost billions of dollars in the process. Eighty hospitals on Monday sued the Health and Human Services Department over how the agency factors inpatient care for Medicare Advantage patients into DSH payments, which are meant to bolster providers that treat many low-income patients. Hospitals from states including California, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas allege HHS violated the Administrative Procedure Act by not following the typical rulemaking process when it finalized a rule in June 2023 on how Medicare Advantage influences DSH calculations.

Kaiser Permanente enters deal with CommonSpirit to expand Colorado presence GlobalData; 9/11/24 Kaiser Permanente and CommonSpirit Health have expanded their alliance with a new long-term agreement, aimed at providing Kaiser Permanente's members with enhanced access to healthcare services in Colorado, US. This agreement will integrate Kaiser Permanente physicians into CommonSpirit's hospitals, offering members, including Metro Denver residents, more convenient healthcare services and options close to home. CommonSpirit Health, a nonprofit health system, has a significant presence in Colorado, operating nearly 20 hospitals and over 240 care sites with a workforce of more than 16,000 and 5,300 healthcare professionals, including physicians and practice clinicians. Meanwhile, Kaiser Permanente, also a nonprofit, is known for its integrated care and coverage model, which includes care from its own providers, as well as a broad external network. 

Alivia Care, Inc. introduces Alivia Care @ Home to northeast Florida PR.com, Alivia Care, Inc. Press Releases, Jacksonville, FL; 9/8/24 Alivia Care, Inc., the parent organization of Community Hospice & Palliative Care, is proud to announces Alivia Care @ Home in Northeast Florida. This change marks a significant milestone in the company's mission to enhance the quality of life for patients through exceptional home care, home health, and supportive care services. As part of this initiative, Alivia Care, Inc. recently opened Alivia Care @ Home offices in Gainesville and Ocala last month, furthering their commitment to serving the North Florida community. Alivia Care @ Home offers specialized services for patients who prefer to receive treatment at home. ... Alivia Care @ Home offers a full spectrum of specialized services, including nursing, physical, occupational, and speech therapies. 

Report: More than one-third of nursing homes don’t have required medical director McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Kristen Fischer; 9/3/24Though all nursing homes must have a medical director under federal law, a new study shows that some nursing homes don’t meet the requirement. Facilities that do have a medical director report that the medical director spends just a few hours per week on site, according to the study. Medical directors are charged with overseeing medical care. They manage resident care policies and procedures to align with current standards of practice, including infection control protocols, educational programs and performance reviews for healthcare workers. The report was published on [9/2/24] in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. The authors reviewed the practices of nearly 15,000 nursing homes in the United States, using federal Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) data on staffing positions for the period of 2017–2023, as well as federal nursing home ownership data and deficiencies data for 2023.

Ohio hospital closes amid financial challengesBecker's Hospital CFO Report; by Madeline Ashley; 9/4/24Hicksville, Ohio-based Community Memorial Hospital permanently closed its doors Aug. 31 after temporarily shutting down in May due to financial challenges, Bill Cherry, former CEO of Community Memorial Hospital, confirmed with Becker's. "The decision to close Community Memorial Hospital follows thorough efforts to find a viable path to continue operations," Mr. Cherry said in a Sept. 4 statement shared with Becker's. "Unfortunately, despite all our efforts made, CMH has not been able to identify a sustainable solution. We understand the profound impact this closure will have on the community and we extend our deepest gratitude to the residents of Northwest Ohio and Northeast Indiana for their unwavering support and trust over the years."

Bargaining, contract fights heat up across health systemsModern Healthcare; by Mari Devereaux; 9/3/24Thousands of healthcare workers nationwide are negotiating for new contracts, and staff at some facilities are preparing for the possibility of strikes in the coming months. Nurses at HCA Healthcare’s MountainView Hospital in Las Vegas voted last week to authorize a strike if no progress is made in negotiating for a contract that ensures higher pay, meal breaks for nurses and better retention strategies. National Nurses United members at the health system’s Mission Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina, are conducting a strike authorization vote. These moves, combined with dozens of pickets, protests and contract fights across the country, exemplify the ongoing tension between healthcare employers and staff.Discussion includes: HCA Healthcare, Albany Medical Center, Sharp HealthCare, Kaiser Permanente, Keck Medicine of USC, and University of Michigan Health-Sparrow.

TRU PACE removes barriers for older adults wanting to age in place and avoid nursing homes[CO] My Prime Time News; 8/29/24September is National PACE Month—an opportunity to celebrate PACE (the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly). PACE is an innovative care model that allows older adults over age 55 with long-term care needs to live independently in their communities for as long as possible... TRU PACE provides a better quality of life with dedicated caregivers, transportation, homecare, full medical care, rehabilitation, medication, medical equipment, mental health support, meals, and opportunities for socialization at the day center. The PACE Center serves as the central hub of all services, including scheduling and transportation to and from all appointments. In PACE networks there is never a co-pay, deductible or coverage gap so you can access the care, services and medications you need. PACE’s comprehensive services and interdisciplinary team can be an invaluable solution for the older adult and their caregivers who are balancing the needs of family and work.

Year-over-year health spending growth highest ‘by far’ for home healthcare McKnights Senior Living; by Lois A. Bowers; 7/28/24 Year-over-year growth in national health spending in June was highest “by far” for home healthcare, at 20.9%, compared with other major healthcare categories, according to a brief issued late Tuesday by Altarum. Most of the growth, 18.5 percentage points, was due to changes in utilization rather than price, George Miller, PhD, Altarum fellow and research team leader, told the McKnight’s Business Daily. “Nursing home care spending was a distant second, at 10.0% year-over-year growth,” Miller said. By comparison, year-over-year spending growth was 8.3% for prescription drugs, 8.2% for hospital care, 7.3% for dental services and 6.6% for physician and clinical services, according to the report. Overall, spending on healthcare goods and services grew by 8.1% between June 2023 and June 2024, with utilization growth continuing to outpace price growth.