03/27/2026

PALTC News - March 24

PALTmed, Coalition Cite 'Immediate Threat' in Push for Skilled Nursing Pay Fix

McKnight's Long-Term Care News
A coalition of geriatricians and nursing home advocacy groups is raising "serious concern" about a new policy that pays doctors treating skilled nursing patients less than when they care for long-term care patients. PALTmed and the American Geriatrics Society joined other associations in calling on CMS to reverse new practice expense coding that risks discouraging clinicians from practicing in post-acute settings. Read more.

Vaccination Program Gaps in Assisted Living Communities Linked to Higher Hospitalization Risk

McKnight's Senior Living
Assisted living communities were significantly less likely than nursing homes to offer vaccination programs for seven vaccine-preventable illnesses and more likely to report transferring residents to the hospital for those same conditions, according to the results of a study published in JAMDA. Read more.

Recovery Experiences of Older Adults and Their Caregivers After Major Elective Noncardiac Surgery

JAMA
An increasing number of older adults living with frailty are undergoing surgery, yet scarce data on postoperative functional recovery, care needs after surgery, and the extent of caregiver support exist. This study characterizes older adults' and caregivers' recovery experiences in the first 6 months after surgery. Read more.

Setting Up Systems to Prevent Weight Loss

Provider Magazine
Unplanned weight loss in long-term care is more than a clinical concern; it's a leadership concern. It impacts resident wellbeing, family satisfaction, survey risk, and quality outcomes. Yet some facilities respond the same way: add a supplement, document the intervention, and hope the scale stabilizes. But organizations that consistently perform well know the truth: supplements don't prevent weight loss, systems do. Read more.