Republicans from the U.S. House of Representatives announced a healthcare reform proposal that would challenge parts of the Affordable Care Act but retain some of the Act’s more popular provisions. Read More »
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) has issued its annual report on refinements to Medicare payment systems and on issues affecting the medicare program Read More »
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced it will not begin surveying for compliance with the 2012 fire safety codes until November. The July 5 ruling still applies when considering which code chapters facilities must comply with. Read More »
The new Drug Enforcement Agency rules on medication reclamation and disposal protocols have been out since October 2014, but some nursing homes are still using improper methods to deal with unused or expired medications. Read More »
Resident-to-resident elder mistreatment is highly prevalent in nursing homes, according to a new study published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. Read More »
The judges give the 2016 OPTIMA Award to the Texas State Veterans Homes for its groundbreaking program examining the relationship of military post-traumatic stress to behaviors and dementia and its training program for caregivers. The program is in place at the organization's eight sites across the state. Read More »
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Learning to operate under the value-based payment model
By Richard A. Royer, MBA, CEO of PrimarisFor nursing homes, learning to operate under a new payment model is challenging after existing in the fee-for-service sphere for so long. But the introduction of new value-based programs requires nursing homes to adapt and embrace payment changes. Learn More »
Unclear or incomplete documentation of end-of-life care choices makes a paramedic’s job even harder, especially when transferring residents from a nursing home to the hospital, says a British explorative paper. How much training are you giving residents and families on the importance of a POLST form? Read More »
A U.S. district judge ruled the Federal Nursing Home Reform Act doesn’t give individuals the right to sue states, thereby dismissing a lawsuit alleging California nursing homes denied Medi-Cal patients readmission. Read More »
Despite efforts to ease the backlog of appeals, no relief is in sight for the backlog of appeals from facilities that choose to appeal Medicare claims denials and deficiency citations. Read More »
Welltower’s “Manhattan Project” is banking on the concept of high-service, high-rise senior living right in the middle of Midtown and the Upper East Side. Read More »
The pressure is on for skilled nursing facilities: Compliance for CMS reimbursement means proper charting, documentation of therapy minutes and shaking out those RUGs. Read More »
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued draft guidance to reduce sodium intake to 2,300 milligrams per day. One in three Americans has high blood pressure, a risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Read More »
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Automating resident care equipment cleaning and disinfection: The new paradigm
By Karl Soderquist, President, The HUBSCRUB Company If you've got wheelchairs, you've got a cleaning problem. As standards for disinfecting medical equipment tighten, automation can help ensure compliance and save on manual labor. Learn More »
PARA-SCOPE software evaluates risk for post-acute providers by analyzing data from Nursing Home Compare and American Health Care Association along with Formation Healthcare Group proprietary models. Read More »
Mistakes and “near misses” can and will happen. But, how a facility discloses an error can affect everything from the CMS response to the family’s reaction. Read More »
An OIG investigation determined the LPN had falsified charting records stating she had performed neuro checks after the resident had fallen out of his wheelchair. Read More »
Chateau Girardeau is making room for more residents. The continuing care retirement community plans to add eight single-dwelling estate homes to its community, which already has a wait list. Read More »
State health officials have suspended an assisted living facility’s operating license for two of its buildings. The facility has received dozens of deficiencies and reports of two resident falls in the last six months. Read More »
Culture change is easy to spot after it’s happened. It’s much harder to discern while it’s in progress—when it’s still just a single, bright torch held by a single person. Do you have a staff inspirer at your facility? Read More »
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The prospect’s journey: A story in data
By Erin Hayes, CIO, Enquire SolutionsA step-by-step approach to prospect leads can increase the chances of a productive visit—and a move-in. Learn More »
Newly appointed president and CEO Steven Scott will be tasked with scaling predictive data analytics company PointRight for growth in both the payer and provider markets of long-term post-acute care. Read More »
The long-term care industry may be hard hit by the Department of Labor’s new Overtime Exemption Rule, which will make certain workers who earn less than $48,000 a year eligible for overtime pay. Read More »
Hawaii state lawmakers reviewed several proposals before their legislative session ended, including some related to the oversight and inspection of long-term care facilities. Read More »
