Chicago-based Help at Home informed the Alabama Department of Commerce of its upcoming closure and layoffs in a WARN notice. Help at Home spokesperson Kristen Trenaman told AL.com that its Alabama operations will cease Sept. 30, when the company’s annual contracts with the state expires. The layoffs of 785 employees, which are scattered throughout all 67 counties in the state, will be effective Nov. 4, she said. Alabama is one of 10 states that hasn’t accepted federal funding to expand its Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
Most Americans say they wouldn't want to live in a nursing home — or for a relative to live in one — over concerns about care quality and cost, according a new Gallup survey. Nursing homes already had an image problem before they were hit hard by COVID-19, and the poll suggests they have more work to do to regain public trust. Seniors generally want to age at home. More than three-quarters of adults over 55 want to stay in their current home or community for as long as possible, according to a 2021 AARP survey.
The GUIDE Model seeks to bridge the gaps in care for people with dementia. Some key components of the model include model design and purpose, beneficiary eligibility criteria, provider participation, tracks, payment methodology, and compatiblilty with other models. The Guide model will launch on July 1, 2024.
Pennsylvania already regulates nursing home staffing levels, and this summer rolled out the most significant update of these rules in decades. Since July 1, the Pennsylvania Department of Health has required all long-term care facilities to provide 2.87 hours of direct care to each resident daily, up from the 2.7 hours of daily direct care had to provide prior. The hours of care are not divided by type of provider. A bigger jump to 3.2 hours of direct care per day is scheduled to go into effect in Pennsylvania on July 1, 2024.
These unnecessary cuts will not only undermine patient access but could also worsen a growing healthcare crisis in rural communities throughout the state. ome healthcare exists to help ease the transition from the hospital back to patients’ homes. It can be a difficult process, which is why home healthcare agencies employ a comprehensive team. Unfortunately, an ongoing home healthcare workforce shortage and the impact of years of Medicare cuts to home health providers are making it increasingly difficult for hospitals and health systems to refer patients to home healthcare.
State inspectors who likely will help enforce the Biden administration's new nursing home staffing requirements are facing their own workforce shortages. The Biden administration says its newly proposed staffing ratios could improve patient care, but the program's success may depend on a nursing home oversight apparatus that's already struggling to keep up with inspections. More than 30 state survey agencies, which examine nursing homes' compliance with federal standards, have vacancy rates of at least 20%.