Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Survey Finds 25% Of Nursing Homes Could Shutter In Next Year
Becker's Hospital Review: Only 1 In 4 Nursing Homes Confident They Will Stay Open A Year, Survey Finds
Only a quarter of nursing homes and assisted living communities are confident they can remain open for another year or more, reports The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living. The findings come from the organization's most recent survey of U.S. skilled nursing centers, assisted living communities, and sub-acute centers and homes. (Masson, 7/12)
Columbus Dispatch: Every Five Years, Ohio Nursing Homes Get New Medicaid Reimbursement Rates. Amid COVID-19, It's Even More Critical
Like other skilled nursing facilities, those under Ohio Living were financially ravaged by COVID-19. Almost 45% of Ohio Living residents pay with Medicaid, one of the largest payers in the long-term care market. But Medicaid's government-set rates often don't cover the full costs. ... Now, overdue money for homes like Westminster-Thurber will soon be flowing in to help alleviate the situation. With the state budget signed into law earlier this month, the Ohio Department of Medicaid is currently going through its process to set new Medicaid reimbursement rates for nursing homes. (Wu, 7/12)
KHN: Teen Volunteers Get A Foot In The Door For Nursing Home Careers
Jasmine De Moya, 17, has dreamed for years of working in the medical field, and she yearned to spend time with older people, missing her grandparents, who live in the Dominican Republic. A program sponsored by the New Jewish Home health system in New York City that combines volunteering and free training for entry-level health jobs, career coaching and assistance on her college prep is helping make her hopes come alive. Over the past three years, Jasmine has learned a lot about caring for older people, from the importance of speaking slowly and being gentle with frail residents who may have hearing or comprehension problems to how to brush their teeth or bathe them. (Andrews, 7/13)
The Wall Street Journal: Related Cos., CareMax Partner Up To Develop Senior Health Centers In Underserved Communities
Related Cos., one of the largest owners of affordable housing in the U.S., is acquiring as much as a 9% stake in healthcare provider CareMax Inc. as part of its plan to develop scores of senior health centers in underserved urban communities throughout the U.S. Related, a developer of office buildings, malls and upscale apartments as well as affordable housing, will act as an investor, adviser, developer and, in some cases, landlord of CareMax health centers. As part of the deal, Related will buy $5 million in CareMax stock and receive warrants to purchase up to 8 million shares at $11.50 a share. (Grant, 7/13)
Seattle Times: 6,000 People Have Died From COVID-19 In Washington State
The number of Washington residents who have died from COVID-19 has now reached 6,000, according to data from the state Department of Health. About 44% of the state’s deaths are among residents, staff and visitors of long-term-care facilities, which have borne the brunt of the deadly virus. As of July 6, 2,666 people associated with the state’s nursing homes, assisted-living facilities and adult family homes have died, according to the DOH. (Zhou, 7/12)
