State lawmakers have made it legal for residents and their families to install their own “granny cams” and other recording devices in resident rooms to monitor care and other activities. Read More »
In a concentrated effort to halt the spread and severity of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, an advisory council will be assembled to combat this serious health threat Read More »
Massachusetts nursing homes are no longer allowed to advertise memory care services unless they meet specific state standards for care. Will this become a trend nationwide? Read More »
The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources now requires fingerprint-based state and national criminal background checks for long-term care workers. Read More »
The biggest fact of life is that everyone dies. As the clock takes its final ticks—whether it’s counting down the life of a loved one or yourself—do family and friends know how to honor your wishes? Read More »
The former head of the Office of the National Coordinator of Health IT (ONC), Farzad Mostashari, is making big waves in the accountable care organization (ACO) arena. His year-old company has applied to launch ACOs in seven more states next year. Read More »
The costs of caring for sick and frail older convicts are skyrocketing and soon so will the numbers of elderly inmates in the nation’s prison systems. The Ohio Department of Corrections thinks it has found the answer to reducing the state's costs of providing care. Read More »
MDS coordinators are charged with the responsibility to ensure all of the data accurately reflects all residents and the care that is being provided to them. Read More »
One of the fastest-growing retirement states in the country, Arizona senior advocates applaud the state legislature for taking this first step toward transparency. Read More »
If you have transgender employees—even if you don’t—it’s important for employers to be aware of the requirements in providing restroom access based on gender indentification. Read More »
An assisted living owner looking to sell the building puts the heat on residents to vacate the premises by turning off their air conditioning. Read More »
Happy birthday, Medicare and Medicaid—and can we say, you don’t look a day over 50. But, the healthcare world sure is different now, compared to when you were born. Read More »
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is partnering with the state of Rhode Island to try out a new model for providing person-centered care to Medicare/Medicaid dual enrollees. Read More »
Overall national healthcare spending is expected to rise by modest amounts during the decade from 2014-2024, notes a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services budget report released today. Read More »
Legislation to inform Medicare beneficiaries of their outpatient status has passed through the legislative branch without a hitch. Now, it’s off to the White House. Read More »
A new pilot program model from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will test whether hospice care and curative care should be offered simultaneously, instead of asking terminally-ill patients to choose one or the other. Read More »
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' proposed rule would require long-term care facilities to establish an antibiotic stewardship program in order to participate in Medicare. Read More »
The 400-page proposal includes new rules to reduce hospitalizations, infections and resident risks. But, opponents question the financial impacts: Feds estimate the cost would be nearly $90,000 per facility over two years. Read More »
A new directive is aimed to further reduce the risk of tuberculosis (TB) to employees working in healthcare settings, including new rules for screening and bloodwork. Read More »
