All news
115 stories, newest first. Each day lists the news published that day.
November 2026
November 6, 2026
MedicareNew
Humana's CenterWell Senior Primary Care reaches about 638,000 patients across 399 centers
In third-quarter results, Humana said its senior-focused primary care clinics added about 146,800 patients year to date, a sign that more Medicare Advantage members are getting care inside insurer-run clinics.
Nursing homes
CMS proposes rolling back COVID-era nursing home reporting and other admin rules
The proposed rule would end weekly flu and COVID data entry for nursing homes in normal times, trim vaccine paperwork, and drop some Medicaid spending reports, with estimated savings of $320 million and 3.26 million staff hours across providers.
November 5, 2026
New YorkNew
New York's 65+ population hit 1.43 million as nursing homes warn of Medicaid underfunding
WAMC reports New York is the fourth-oldest state, with only 2.8 working adults projected per senior by 2030, while industry leaders say Medicaid covers about 75% of nursing home residents and underpays by roughly $100 a day.
Nursing homesNew
Nursing homes remind families: holiday decorations face strict fire-safety limits
LeadingAge Nebraska's November 5 briefing restates Life Safety Code rules families bump into when bringing wreaths, lights or gifts: live trees are out, flame-retardant labels matter, and corridor clutter is not allowed.
November 4, 2026
Medicare
Medicare finalizes a 2.4% raise for home health agencies in 2027, with tighter enrollment rules
The final rule adds about $415 million for agencies that send nurses and therapists to patients' homes, keeps a 3% temporary cut in place, and does not change what Medicare home health covers for patients.
Dementia
A seven-week phone-based program helped dementia caregivers feel more positive about their role, small study finds
George Mason University researchers delivered short lessons in Chinese through WeChat to 48 caregivers; positive caregiving scores nearly doubled, but stress and depression scores didn't change much.
New York
A Western New York county explains home care help for seniors, including a program for people without Medicaid
Chautauqua County's aging office says the state's EISEP program can pay for personal care and housekeeping for older adults who don't have Medicaid, with cost sharing based on income.
Nursing homes
Nursing homes that hired a certified medical director sent fewer residents back to the hospital, study finds
Researchers from the University of Rochester and Harvard compared 495 nursing homes that hired a certified medical director with about 11,800 that didn't and found modest drops in hospital use.
Caregiving
Caring for a parent can cost a working caregiver about $120,500 over a lifetime, AARP finds
The estimate counts lost pay, smaller retirement savings and lower Social Security checks, and it climbs to about $446,500 for caregivers who miss more than two and a half years of full-time work.
November 3, 2026
New York
New York explains SNAP work rules for older adults: 65 and older are exempt
The state Office for the Aging says people 65 and older and many caregivers are exempt from expanded federal SNAP work rules, and New Yorkers who lost food benefits can reapply now.
Home care
Medicaid home care faces budget pressure and worker shortages, report says
About 8.4 million people get Medicaid home and community-based services, and a Home Health Care News report says federal cuts, state budgets and staffing gaps are squeezing the agencies that serve them.
Medicaid
CMS says it will appeal ruling that eased the Medicaid 'medically frail' exemption
Medicare and Medicaid chief Mehmet Oz says the agency will fight last week's court decision, which made it easier for seriously ill adults to be excused from new Medicaid work rules starting January 1.
November 2, 2026
Medicare
Medicare spending per hospice stay rose 5.9% after private equity purchases, Harvard study finds
Hospices bought by private equity firms saw longer stays and more patients discharged alive, without more visits, a Harvard study of 191 acquisitions found. Researchers say Medicare's flat daily payment may need changes.
Home care
Pennsylvania home care agencies say 112,500 shifts go unfilled each month
A Pennsylvania home care trade group says low Medicaid rates leave about 112,500 shifts unfilled monthly and one in four authorized nursing hours undelivered, as state senators move to study rates and the workforce.
Medicaid
New York explains the Medicaid changes coming in 2027, including work rules and six-month renewals
New York's health insurance marketplace posted a guide on November 2 to federal Medicaid changes that start in January, from work requirements for some adults 19 to 64 to more frequent renewals.
Medicare
Medicare Advantage members less likely to get into top-rated rehab nursing homes, study finds
A study of 1.45 million hospital discharges found people in Medicare Advantage plans, especially narrow-network plans, were less likely than traditional Medicare patients to enter five-star nursing homes or the one nearest home.
Dementia
Study: few people with dementia get a dementia care unit bed after a hospital stay
A JAMA Network Open study of 1.4 million Medicare patients with dementia found only about 18% of those who moved into long-term care went to a facility with a dementia unit, with gaps by race and distance.
November 1, 2026
Caregiving
Medicare will pay to train family caregivers, but few families have used it
Since 2024, Medicare can pay a parent's clinician to teach family caregivers skills like safe transfers and medication routines. In its first year and a half, claims covered only about 9,600 people, an AARP study found.
October 2026
October 30, 2026
New York
Judge finds Sullivan County in contempt for moving nursing home residents despite court order
A state judge found Sullivan County and its county manager in criminal contempt for transferring 27 residents out of the Care Center at Sunset Lake after a September order paused the closure, according to the families' attorney.
Nursing homes
Senate Democrats' report calls for nursing home ownership transparency and stronger oversight
A Senate Finance Committee minority report released October 29 links complex ownership deals and understaffing to resident harm. Industry groups are divided over its proposals.
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