CMS

Research shows two-thirds of the state's dementia caregivers report at least one chronic health condition of their own, and 29% are dealing with depression. A promising resource is in the works.

These hospitals receive more than $3 million in federal money a year., but the catch is there are zero inpatient beds. .The Florida Legislature recently passed a bill that to create a category of “rural emergency hospitals" and help keep facilities open.

The federal government requires every state to recover money from the assets of dead people who, in their final years, relied on Medicaid for long-term care. Critics want the practice to stop.

The Biden administration is requiring states give CHIP beneficiaries 12 months of continuous coverage, even if families don't pay monthly premiums. State lawyers say premiums are needed for expansion of coverage signed into law last year.

Just 18 facilities were converted into Rural Emergency Hospitals so far. Advocates and lawmakers say tweaks to the law are needed to widen the reach and keep health care in rural communities.

As enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans grows, so do concerns about how well the insurance works, including from those who say they have become trapped in the private plans as their health declines.

Poverty experts are questioning if HHS is doing enough to stop states from wrongly removing people from the program. Estimates show up to 30 million could be dropped as states finish reviewing their rolls.

LeadingAge Florida said it submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services warning the proposal would have “unintended consequences” because of the shortage of nurses.

The Florida Health Care Association wrote to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services warning that most facilities could not meet the “arbitrary and unfunded mandates."

Medicare is expanding access to mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists come Jan. 1. But the belief that seniors who suffer from mental health problems should just grin and bear it remains a troubling barrier to care.