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News & Notes Archive

December 2017

Posted onAuthorKiara Lopez

In this Issue

New CANHR Issue Brief: Don’t Believe the Hype

While nursing home regulators pat their backs for reduced antipsychotic drug use in nursing homes and turn their backs on continued misuse, one-in-five nursing residents still receive powerful antipsychotic drugs and many more are given other drugs to chemically restrain them.  The numbers touted by the government are misleading and hide the epidemic that continues in nursing homes.  Learn the real story in the new Issue Brief.

Trump Administration Scaling Back Nursing Home Fines and Requirements

On December 24, 2017, the New York Times reported that the Trump Administration has scaled back the use of fines against nursing homes that harm residents or place them in grave risk of injury. The Times article, Trump Administration Eases Nursing Home Fines in Victory for Industry, described the reduced use of fines as part of a broader relaxation of regulations under the president at the behest of the nursing home industry.
Read more
 

Care Suffers as More Nursing Homes Feed Money Into Corporate Webs

A January 2, 2018 New York Times article produced with Kaiser Health News examines how nursing home chains reap profits by contracting with companies they own or control. Nursing home owners are using this method – which accounted for $11 billion in spending in 2015 – to siphon off funds intended for care and staffing.  While the quality of care suffers under these arrangements, operator profits soar in a way that does not show up on their nursing home accounts. The article reports that the California state auditor is examining related party transactions by Brius Healthcare Services, a nursing home chain owned by Shlomo Rechnitz. 
 

Infection Lapses Are Rampant in Nursing Homes but Punishment is Rare

So says a Los Angeles Times and Kaiser Health News headline for an article published on December 21, 2017. The article reports that 74 percent of the nation’s nursing homes have been cited for infection control violations during the last four years. In California, nearly 90 percent of nursing homes have been cited. 
Read more
 

CMS Agrees: Something Stinks About Nursing Home Discharges

Following more national news stories (from Forbes and the Washington Post) about illegal and inappropriate nursing home discharges, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released a Survey and Certification memo announcing an initiative to address them.

Denti-Cal Restores Adult Dental Services in 2018 

The Department of Health Care Services announced the full restoration of adult dental services effective January 1, 2018. Restored benefits will include: partial dentures, denture adjustments, repairs, and relines , laboratory processed crowns, posterior root canal therapy and periodontal services.
Read more
 

Northern California Fires Helping Handbook 

The National Health Law Program and Morrison & Foerster recently updated their 2017 Northern California Fires Helping Handbook. The English and Spanish handbooks educate consumers affected by the wildfires and provides resources for accessing health care and coverage amongst more.
Read more – English Handbook
Read more – Spanish Handbook

2018 Cost of Living Adjustments 

The Social Security Administration and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announce cost of living adjustments each year based on a government measure of inflation. This year there will be a 2% increase for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income. 

 

Upcoming Events

Save the Date – CANHR’s 35th Anniversary Fundraising Gala

6:00-10:30pm, September 22, 2018
San Francisco State University, Towers Conference Center.
Join us for a cocktail reception, dinner, and live auction to benefit California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform. 
More updates to follow including program details, formal invitations, and sponsorship opportunities. 

For more information contact Pauline@canhr.org