Medicare Home Health Use Falling Due to Payment Policy, Research Finds
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new analysis from the Commonwealth Fund finds that declining use of Medicare-covered home health services reflects not only enrollment shifts to Medicare Advantage but also the cumulative effects of federal payment policy — raising questions about whether vulnerable older adults can access care outside of costly institutional settings. The issue brief, […]
Shingles Vaccine Linked to Lower Dementia Risk in Nursing Home Residents, Study Finds
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Older adults who received the recombinant shingles vaccine after a skilled nursing facility stay had a 24% lower risk of being diagnosed with dementia over four years compared to unvaccinated peers, according to a study published June 15, 2026, in Annals of Internal Medicine. The research, led by Kaley Hayes, PharmD, PhD, […]
Private Medicare Plans Deny Long-Term and Rehab Care at Exceedingly High Rates
Federal watchdog reports reveal the three largest Medicare Advantage plans denied prior authorization for long-term and rehabilitation care at rates above 70%, far outpacing industry peers.
Hospice Sector Pushes to Integrate Cultural Responsiveness and Trauma-Informed Care
As racial and ethnic disparities in hospice utilization persist across the United States, hospice providers and palliative care researchers are calling for a more deliberate integration of culturally responsive and trauma-informed approaches — practices they say are essential to ensuring dignified end-of-life care reaches all communities equally. The call to action, detailed by Hospice News […]
CMS Takes ‘Bold’ Action to Enforce Budget Neutrality on Medicaid Section 1115 Waivers
WASHINGTON — The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced June 11, 2026, a sweeping overhaul of how it evaluates budget neutrality for Medicaid Section 1115 demonstration waivers, requiring independent actuarial certification before any new, renewed, or amended waiver is approved — a change the agency described as a “bold new approach to stewarding Medicaid […]
Kentucky App Lets Families Assess Home Safety Before a Crisis Forces the Issue
A Kentucky startup has built a smartphone app that walks families through a room-by-room home safety audit — bringing aging-in-place assessment within reach without scheduling a professional.
NPHI Calls for Thoughtful Hospice Payment Reform that Rewards High-Quality Care
WASHINGTON — The National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation on June 16 issued a statement calling for a reformed Medicare hospice payment model that better compensates providers delivering the highest quality care, while pushing back against a federal watchdog’s recommendation to restructure reimbursement around per-visit billing. The statement came one week after the U.S. […]
Most U.S. Seniors Want to Age at Home. Most Homes Aren’t Ready.
A vast majority of older Americans want to remain in their homes as they age — but the infrastructure needed to make that wish a reality is sorely lacking, according to recent research, federal data, and industry reports. According to a 2024 survey, 95% of adults aged 55 and older consider aging in place an […]
6 Signs It’s Time to Switch from Manual to Electric Bed Adjustments
Still managing with a manual or semi-electric bed? These 6 signs tell you it’s time to upgrade, and why the switch matters for safety at home.
Survey of Senior Living Residents and Families Reveals a ‘Striking Contradiction’ Related to Aging in Place
A new RaisedCare and USC study of 589 families finds most prefer in-home care — but affordability stands in the way. What this means for families navigating long-term care decisions.