Law

On February 21, Justice in Aging released an updated and expanded version of its “20 Common Nursing Home Problems–and How to Resolve Them” issue brief, which was written with financial support from the Commonwealth Fund. This revision, like the original edition, introduces each common problem by identifying a false statement commonly made by nursing home staff, along with a clear statement of the relevant law. This updated edition addresses additional problems, discusses issues in more detail, and includes recent revisions to federal regulations and guidance. This guide gives residents, family members, friends, and other advocates the tools they need to identify and solve the problems residents most frequently face.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a new report that shows the premium rebate record since 2011. The Affordable Care Act requires that health insurance companies spend a minimum of 80% of premium dollars on health care, resulting in $2.4 billion in consumer rebates since 2011. CMS' results indicate that consumers are receiving a higher value for their premium dollars as a result of the Medical Loss Ratio (MLR), 80/20 rule.