Today

Nursing home beds shrink as Medicare open enrollment season nears

Good morning. Two big worries stand out today. First, nursing home beds are disappearing across the country, and reporters say that is a real problem for families who need a place for a loved one (23). At the same time, communities like Sumter are pushing back on new nursing homes near their homes, so more beds may be even harder to add (5, 8).

Second, fall is a key time for anyone on Medicare. One report urges older adults to stay alert as enrollment season arrives (17). There is news you can use, too: UnitedHealthcare is dropping the need for prior approval on 1,700 medical codes, though only about 120 touch Medicare Advantage and dual-eligible plans (18). And Walmart will now sell Medicare Advantage plans, much like Costco (22).

Safety also made the news, with fires and an explosion at assisted living homes in several states (4, 10, 11).