Pamela Tabar
Pamela Tabar was editor-in-chief of I Advance Senior Care from 2013-2018. She has worked as a writer and editor for healthcare business media since 1998, including as News Editor of Healthcare Informatics. She has a master’s degree in journalism from Kent State University and a master's degree in English from the University of York, England.
CMS proposes lower Part D deductibles, slashed insurer payments for Medicare Advantage plans
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released its proposals for rate and payment changes for 2014. Seniors may be happy about the Part D drug changes, but insurers aren't as pleased with their end of deal. Read More » JAMA: Delayed hospice transitions undermine palliative care services
In a new JAMA study, researchers question aggressive medical treatments that may keep terminally ill patients in acute care or skilled nursing instead of referring them to hospice care. Read More » National Federation of Nurses merges with teacher’s union
Rather than hooking up with other nursing groups, this nursing union is joining forces with another group of nurturers--the American Federation of Teachers. Read More » GPS wristwatch locates wandering seniors, contacts care team
The latest technology in wander management is even cooler than Dick Tracy’s wrist radio. Read More » GOP appoints first members to LTC commission
The new congressional commission on long-term care is slowly forming, as Republicans add two members to the bipartisan group. Read More » Report: Location plays a role in readmission rates
Hospitals made little progress on hospital readmission rates between 2008 and 2010, and some regions have far more readmissions than the national average. Read More » Calif. hospice files for Chapter 11, Scripps Health steps in
A San Diego hospice company files for bankruptcy protection amid federal investigations, while Scripps Health steps in to cover hospice needs in the region. Read More » AL salary report shows investments in memory care, proactive wellness
The annual assisted living salary report is out: Find out which positions and regions pay the most—and which staff positions are garnering new attention this year. Read More » CBO: 4 to 7 million workers may lose job-based health insurance
The Congressional Budget Office on Tuesday released dismal statistics on how many employers may stop offering health benefits because of the new employer-based health plan rules. Read More » CBO lowers 10-year Medicare, Medicaid spending projections
The Congressional Budget Office lowered spending expectations for Medicare and Medicaid for 2013-2023, according to a report released Tuesday. Read More » FDA may switch hydrocodone to stricter access level
A popular pain medication, currrently under review by the Food Drug Administration, may become much harder to acquire. Read More » CMS cleans up guidelines on laundry and infection control
Modern detergents and new laundering technologies have prompted the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services to revise the laundry notes under F tag 411. Read More » CMS mandates greater disclosure on provider/manufacturer relationships
How much do you know about your GPO? CMS has instituted stricter disclosure rules pertaining to the financial relationships between providers and drug and device manufacturers. Read More » Pew releases database of state Medicaid anti-fraud strategies
The Affordable Care Act requires states to have policies to combat fraud, but each state can choose how to do it. A new database shows what each state is doing to combat Medicaid fraud on their home turf. Read More » Got checks? Feds mark 30-day countdown to paperless benefit payments
Anyone who receives any federal benefits—from Social Security to VA benefits—must switch to electronic payments by March 1. Read More » CMS announces test sites for bundled payment program
Hundreds of provider sites are ready to test the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ four new models for restructuring the way episodes of care are paid for. Read More » HHS translates healthcare insurance exchanges for clarity
State-based health insurance exchanges, already battered by state resistance and party-line politics, have one more hurdle to overcome. Read More » Durable medical equipment providers attract OIG’s fraud spotlight
Although therapy billing has taken a lot of the heat lately in CMS’ hunt for fradulent billing practices, the next big target might be something more durable. Read More » Study: Poor quality sleep leads to memory loss in seniors
Counting sheep from loss of sleep? Poor sleep can have a direct effect on more than just physical energy in elders, according to a new neurology study. Read More » OIG widens crackdown on hospices
Another hospice gets a federal audit as the Office of Inspector General increases investigations at hospices across the country. Read More » Script changes for the LTC pharmacy
Too much wasted pharmacy stock, no access to the right drugs late at night and nurses spending more time with medication punch cards than with residents. Sound familiar? As managing the pharmacy delivery in long-term care becomes more complex, a mature technology sees a brand new life in long-term care. Read More » Hospice accused of detaining, billing patients who were not terminally ill
A Florida hospice becomes the latest whistleblower lawsuit targeted by the Department of Justice’s Medicare fraud squad. Read More » MedPAC to Congress: Renew Medicare’s special needs plans for long-term care
MedPAC recommends that Congress vote to keep the special needs plans under Medicare Advantage, although some of the plans perform better than others. Read More » How gray is your attitude?
When it comes to longevity, a healthy attitude about aging matters. Colorado researchers are working on a way to measure self-perceived age. Read More » CMS doubles number of ACOs, releases new report on ACO impact
Another 106 provider organizations make the CMS list of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), bringing the number of covered beneficiaries to more than 4 million. Read More » Influenza and norovirus outbreaks pack hospital ERs
An especially aggressive influenza strain and a nationwide outbreak of norovirus are joining forces to form one of the worst flu seasons in decades. Read More » Hospice hit with $50K fine for data breach
Think your LTC facility is too small for privacy and security authorities to come after you for data breaches? Think again. Read More » The Joint Commission issues revised rules for LTC accreditation
The Joint Commission has revised its skilled nursing and rehabilitation accreditation standards, and now offers specialty services facilities a new way to certify their expertise. Read More » Why EHRs matter to LTC’s future
Hospitals have had electronic health records (EHRs) for years. Now it's long-term care's turn. Industry leaders weigh in on EHR technology and long-term/post-acute care's newly respected role in the patient-centered care continuum. Read More » 