News
Category: Federal News
Welcome to the Federal News category. These news items pertain to aging services national policies and programs.
NLRB Issues Joint Employer Final Rule
On November 2, 2023 by Mark Schulz
On Oct. 26, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) released a final rule that will significantly broaden the standard for determining whether separate entities are “joint employers” of particular employees within the meaning of the National Labor Relations Act.
News from LeadingAge: HUD Announces ConnectHome Expansion to Multifamily Housing
On October 26, 2023 by LeadingAge
LeadingAge advocacy helped HUD expand the agency’s connectivity initiative to 50-100 new HUD-assisted properties.
Minimum Staffing Sample Comment Letter Posted
On October 19, 2023 by Mark Schulz
It’s essential that we flood CMS with comments about its proposed staffing rule and its impact on the people you serve. And if you do not know where to start, we’ve got you covered.
News from LeadingAge: HUD Posts Disaster Preparedness Plan Template
On October 12, 2023 by LeadingAge
HUD’s new Multifamily Disaster Preparedness Plan Template is designed to help HUD-assisted housing providers create property-specific plans to protect resident life and safety during a disaster.
Minimum Staffing Standard – Facility Assessment
On October 5, 2023 by Mark Schulz
In its proposed rule, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposes to relocate, modify, and thereby strengthen the facility assessment requirements related to staffing.
NHSN Quality Alert Errors
On September 28, 2023 by Kari Everson
The National Health and Safety Network (NHSN) appears to be generating inaccurate quality alerts for the Weekly COVID-19 Vaccination Module for long-term care facility residents.
Nursing Home Network Special Call - Minimum Staffing
On September 21, 2023 by Mark Schulz
CMS published the nursing home minimum staffing standards proposed rule in the Federal Register on Sept. 6, 2023, and proposes standards that include minimum staffing for Registered Nurses (RNs) and nurse aides.
News from LeadingAge: LeadingAge Urges HUD Action on HOTMA
On September 14, 2023 by LeadingAge
In a Sept. 12 letter to leadership at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), LeadingAge requested “urgent action” on HOTMA implementation.
DOL Issues Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Overtime
On September 7, 2023 by Mark Schulz
The US Department of Labor (DOL) Wage and Hour Division provides notice it will issue a notice of proposed rulemaking to restore and extend overtime protections. In its news release, the DOL stated the proposed federal rule would guarantee overtime pay for most salaried workers earning less than $1,059 per week, about $55,000 per year.
NLRB Revises Representative Case Procedures Rule
On August 31, 2023 by Mark Schulz
In a final direct rule published Aug. 25, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a final rule to remove unnecessary barriers to the fair, efficient, and expeditious resolution of representation questions.
News from LeadingAge: New Funding Increases Section 202 Preservation Rent Subsidies
On August 24, 2023 by LeadingAge
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) broke down how $12 million in new Congressional funding, for which LeadingAge advocated, will increase Section 202 rents as communities with Project Rental Assistance Contracts (PRACs) go through Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) conversion.
SNF Quality Reporting Program Non-Compliance Letters
On July 27, 2023 by Julie Apold
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has begun notifying Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) that were determined to be out of compliance with the Quality Reporting Program (QRP) requirements for the Calendar Year 2022.
News from LeadingAge: House Subcommittee Advances “Unthinkable” HUD Funding Bill
On July 13, 2023 by LeadingAge
During a markup help by the House Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing and Urban Development (THUD) on July 12, lawmakers advanced a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding proposal for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) that would enact serious cuts to affordable housing programs.
News from LeadingAge: Updated Immigration Reform-Focused Dignity Act Includes New Visa Program
On July 6, 2023 by LeadingAge
An updated version of the Dignity Act (H.R. 3359), a large package of immigration reforms introduced in the House by Representatives Maria Salazar (R-FL) and Veronica Escobar (D-TX) on May 23 includes language focused on fixing the current immigration system that aligns with LeadingAge’s current policy priorities.
NLRB Returns to Previous Independent Contractor Test
On June 22, 2023 by Mark Schulz
In a decision published on Jun. 13, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) returned to the FedEx Home Delivery (FedEx II) standard for determining independent contractor status under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).
Supreme Court Upholds Resident Right to Sue Publicly Owned SNFs
On June 15, 2023 by Mark Schulz
On Jun. 8, the Supreme Court ruled in a 7-2 vote that nursing home residents and their families can sue publicly owned nursing home facilities under the Federal Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987 (FNHRA).
Nursing Home Feedback Informs CMS Hospital QSO
On June 8, 2023 by Kari Everson
On June 6, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released QSO-23-17-Hospitals reinforcing hospital requirements for their role in a cooperative discharge plan for post-acute care settings.
Dining and Activity Visitor Attendance
On June 1, 2023 by Kari Everson
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recently clarified with LeadingAge Minnesota when families and visitors can share a meal with a resident in the dining room or attend activities. According to MDH, organizations should continue infection prevention and control practices and complete a facility risk assessment to determine visitor attendance in congregate dining settings and activities.
HUD Published NSPIRE Final Rule
On May 18, 2023 by Bobbie Guidry
Last week, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published the final rule to establish its new approach to defining and assessing housing quality, the National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE). The final rule describes the development of NSPIRE and the next steps from HUD before NSPIRE is implemented on Oct. 1 for multifamily and voucher programs and July 1 for public housing.
EEOC Reminds Employers to Review Employee PHE Accommodations
On May 18, 2023 by Mark Schulz
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has revised guidance for employers regarding the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency. It reminds employers that they cannot automatically terminate reasonable accommodations provided due to pandemic-related circumstances.