Private equity-owned hospices performed below not-for-profit hospices across all Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems hospice survey measures, according to a study published Nov. 18 in JAMA.

CMS has released "significant revisions" to its nursing home surveyor guidance, including requirements for COVID-19 vaccine education, opioid and psychotropic prescribing, and medical director responsibilities. 

Hospice in the Hospital, a collaboration between Winchester, Va.-based Valley Health and Winchester-based Blue Ridge Hospice, has expanded to Warren Memorial Hospital in Front Royal, Va.

Charlotte, N.C.-based Atrium Health Carolinas Rehabilitation has signed an agreement with an Ukrainian organization to provide training and education to Ukraine's rehabilitation workforce.

A hospice company donated $400,000 to Jacksonville, N.C.-based Onslow Memorial Hospital to support hospice services. 

Temple Terrace, Fla.-based Florida Rehabilitation Hospital at Tampa has appointed Jeffrey Harrison as CEO. 

California has the most highly rated nursing homes in the U.S., followed by Florida, according to U.S. News & World Report's "2025 Best Nursing Homes" ratings, published Nov. 12. 

The National Labor Relations Board has filed a complaint against Cincinnati-based CommuniCare, a post-acute care network, for allegedly attempting to enforce stay-or-pay employment agreements.

The U.S. national rate of successful observed discharges to a patient's community or home from a long-term care facility between Oct. 1, 2021, and Sept. 9, 2023, was 18.05, according to CMS data published Sept. 25. 

Effective May 1, 2025, CMS will require requires nursing homes to disclose more detailed ownership information as part of an Affordable Care Act final rule issued Nov. 15, 2023.

Birmingham, Ala.-based Encompass Health, the largest owner and operator of rehabilitation hospitals in the U.S., recently appointed new CEOs at two of its facilities. 

As part of its bankruptcy restructuring, Brockway, Pa.-based Guardian Health has sold eight of the system's skilled nursing facilities to GBK Eight. 

Temple Terrace, Fla.-based Chapters Health System, a nonprofit hospice care network, is expanding into the Western U.S. with the launch of Chapters Health West. 

San Clemente, Calif.-based CareTrust REIT will acquire 31 skilled nursing facilities in Tennessee and Alabama for approximately $500 million.

Birmingham, Ala.-based Encompass Health has appointed Mindy Hong as CEO of the Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Arlington (Texas). 

As part of her presidential campaign platform, Vice President Kamala Harris has proposed expanding Medicare coverage to include at-home care. Since the Oct. 8 announcement, industry experts and organizations have expressed support for the plan. 

The American Hospital Association filed an amicus brief Oct. 24 in support of a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District Court of Texas challenging the federal government's nursing staffing level mandate. 

CMS has released fiscal year 2025 guidance for its State Performance Standards System. The SPSS oversees the performance of the state survey agencies that ensure Medicare and Medicaid providers and facilities are compliant with federal requirements. 

Grand Blanc, Mich.-based McLaren Health Care will close its Bay City, Mich.-based long-term acute care hospital, McLaren Bay Special Care, on Dec. 22. The health system is moving forward with plans to build a multi-specialty outpatient campus on the site. 

The national ratio of Clostridium difficile infections reported by inpatient rehabilitation facilities across the U.S. between Oct. 1, 2022, and Sept. 30, 2023, was 0.408, according to data released by CMS on Sept. 25.