Expanded Skilled Nursing Facility Medicare Coverage During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly devastating for nursing homes and their residents. Aside from the tragically disproportionate loss of life, care for surviving residents has been delayed or interrupted due to infection, facility lockdowns or other health system disruptions. As a result, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has waived two limitations on Medicare Part A skilled nursing facility (SNF) coverage during the coronavirus pandemic: The 3-day qualifying hospital stay requirement; and The 100-day benefit period. However, CMS treats the two SNF coverage expansions differently from each other with regard to its connection to COVID-19. Three Day [...]

Rothkoff Law Group2024-03-08T12:30:05-05:00April 6, 2021|

How the $1.9 Trillion COVID-19 Relief Bill Impacts Seniors, Health Care
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How the $1.9 Trillion COVID-19 Relief Bill Impacts Seniors, Health Care

Law Update, Public Benefits

How the $1.9 Trillion COVID-19 Relief Bill Impacts Seniors, Health Care

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, commonly known as the COVID Relief Bill, became law on March 11, 2021. The law includes the widely publicized $1,400.00 stimulus checks and expanding vaccine distribution, in addition to increasing access to health insurance, funding for the long-term care community, and continued support for the Elder Justice and Older Americans Acts. For those on Medicaid, the the COVID Relief Bill stimulus check is not income or a resource for Medicaid purposes. The funds may be gifted penalty-free for the first 12 months. After 12 months, it is considered a resource impacting Medicaid eligibility. [...]

Rothkoff Law Group2024-03-08T12:31:06-05:00March 25, 2021|

Expanded Skilled Nursing Facility Medicare Coverage During the Pandemic
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Expanded Skilled Nursing Facility Medicare Coverage During the Pandemic

Aging, Assisted Living

Expanded Skilled Nursing Facility Medicare Coverage During the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly devastating for nursing homes and their residents. Aside from the tragically disproportionate loss of life, care for surviving residents has been delayed or interrupted due to infection, facility lockdowns, or other health system disruptions. As a result, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has waived two limitations on Medicare Part A skilled nursing facility (SNF) coverage during the coronavirus pandemic: The 3-day qualifying hospital stay requirement; and The 100-day benefit period. However, CMS treats the two SNF coverage expansions differently from each other with regard to its connection to COVID-19. Three Day [...]

Jerold Rothkoff2024-03-08T12:31:28-05:00March 4, 2021|

Update on Telehealth Insurance Coverage
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Update on Telehealth Insurance Coverage

Health Law

Update on Telehealth Insurance Coverage

Over the past year, telehealth insurance coverage has evolved. While telehealth is not a new practice, it has become much more widely utilized since the outbreak of COVID-19. Historically, telehealth was utilized in certain instances, such as for patients who lived in more rural areas with limited access to resources. In regard to telehealth insurance coverage, effective March 2020, Medicare began covering these visits under much broader guidelines and were paid at the same rate as in-person visits. Some of the most common technology platforms include FaceTime, Zoom, Google Hangouts, and Skype. Under the guidelines during the pandemic, the use [...]

Rothkoff Law Group2024-03-08T12:32:23-05:00February 4, 2021|

Can a Nursing Home Require Vaccination of Residents and Staff?
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Can a Nursing Home Require Vaccination of Residents and Staff?

Assisted Living

Can a Nursing Home Require Vaccination of Residents and Staff?

A recent article in the Doylestown Patch detailed that Neshaminy Manor, a Bucks County, Pennsylvania nursing home, announced they will require all staff to accept the COVID-19 vaccination. Those staff that choose not to vaccinate risk losing their jobs. This naturally leads to the question - Can a nursing home require vaccination of staff as a condition of continued employment? Can any employer? The answer is rather murky. Generally, if failure to vaccinate puts other employees, clients, or the public at risk of infection, then employers may require vaccination as a condition of an employee’s return to work. This is [...]

Bryan Adler2024-03-08T12:32:42-05:00January 22, 2021|

What Seniors Need to Know About the New Stimulus Package
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What Seniors Need to Know About the New Stimulus Package

Public Benefits

What Seniors Need to Know About the New Stimulus Package

The new $900 billion stimulus package was signed into law last week in order to address the continued health and economic fallout of the COVID pandemic. The relief measure includes a one-time $600 payment per eligible adult and child, but those $600 payments are not the only provision seniors should know about. The coronavirus relief package was included as a part of a $1.4 trillion omnibus spending bill, which also contained changes to key senior programs. Here are some of the legislation’s most important provisions for older Americans. $600 Stimulus Checks The stimulus package authorizes a one-time $600 relief payment [...]

Jerold Rothkoff2024-03-08T12:33:04-05:00January 4, 2021|

Helping Seniors Stay Connected During the Surge
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Helping Seniors Stay Connected During the Surge

Aging, Healthy Aging

Helping Seniors Stay Connected During the Surge

Let's look at what we can be helping seniors stay connected during the pandemic surge. I think I was more upset about my father having Thanksgiving alone than he. My small family is scattered across the states, and it was not safe for us to be together. While I worry about my dad living solo, he sees friends, can handle facetime without tech support, and is the master of the pithy text. Not all seniors are faring as well. Physical and mental limitations cause many of our nation’s seniors to live in isolation. The pandemic has only exacerbated the problem. [...]

Rothkoff Law Group2024-03-08T12:33:49-05:00December 1, 2020|

Personal Reflections on Being Thankful in the Face of the Pandemic
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Personal Reflections on Being Thankful in the Face of the Pandemic

Around the Office

Personal Reflections on Being Thankful in the Face of the Pandemic

As a Director of Care Coordination of Rothkoff Law Group, I have unfortunately witnessed how the current pandemic has affected the lives of so many vulnerable older adults. As we still digest our Thanksgiving dinner and prepare for the holiday season before us, many people (myself included) are facing the disappointment, anger, and grief of not being able to spend the holidays with our loved ones as we have in years past. Sure, I had my own personal woes that I can attribute to “typical 2020;” but I have reflected on the last few months and realize that despite all the [...]

Rothkoff Law Group2024-03-08T12:34:21-05:00November 25, 2020|

PA and NJ Long Term Care Visitation Guidelines
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PA and NJ Long Term Care Visitation Guidelines

Assisted Living

PA and NJ Long Term Care Visitation Guidelines

Let's take a moment to review the new PA and NJ Long Term Care Visitation Guidelines that have been established post COVID. It has been a very difficult eight plus months for both loved ones and residents of long-term care communities (LTC), referring to residents in assisted living, personal care homes and nursing homes). Social isolation has taken an extreme toll on the residents. During the past few months, many family members have taken advantage of outside visits with residents. However, as the weather turns colder and with the holiday season forthcoming, many families are concerned about the ability to [...]

Jerold Rothkoff2024-03-08T12:35:13-05:00November 4, 2020|

Town Hall with Eloy Van Hal: The Future of Senior Care After COVID–19
Town Hall with Eloy Van Hal: The Future of Senior Care After COVID–19

Around the Office

Town Hall with Eloy Van Hal: The Future of Senior Care After COVID–19

On June 24, Rothkoff Law Group hosted a virtual “town hall” conversation with Eloy van Hal, the co-founder of the Netherlands’ Dementia Village. Eloy discussed the value of small scale senior housing and implementing the concept in the United States. COVID-19 has exposed the cracks in our tenuous system of providing and funding long-term care. Comprehensive long-term care reform is needed more than ever before. An important piece of this reform is having more safe, affordable residential care options, including smaller scale residential models. Such residential housing models already exist in the Netherlands with the Dementia Village concept. You can view highlights [...]

Rothkoff Law Group2024-03-08T12:36:20-05:00August 6, 2020|