A new report by the Government Accountability Office sheds light on the demographic characteristics of those most likely to have living wills and healthcare powers of attorney. Read More »
Assisted living professionals are cheering the passage of new regulations in Florida. One group, however, says they don’t go far enough to protect residents of the Sunshine State, which has the second-largest population of people aged at least 65 years. Read exclusive interviews here. Read More »
Several speakers at the April 27 White House Conference on Aging’s regional forum in Cleveland used the event as a platform to discuss low wages in the home health field. Read More »
Retirement security is another theme of White House Conference on Aging events, and many speakers at the conference’s regional forum April 27 in Cleveland took the opportunity to stress the importance of the Social Security program to retired adults. Read More »
Speakers at the White House Conference on Aging’s regional event April 27 in Cleveland said the time has come for members of our society to change the way they think about the aging process and older adults. Do you agree? Read More »
State stumblings over the e-prescribing of controlled substances is a lesson for long-term care organizations: How ready are you for e-prescribing mandates? Read More »
Independence at Home demonstration projects would continue under a bill passed by the U.S. Senate. The legislation now awaits consideration in the House of Representatives. Read More »
The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health deliberated today about a bipartisan bill that would expand veterans’ access to skilled nursing and other healthcare options. Read More »
Do the actions of a state governor foreshadow the approach he would take and the policies he would advocate if elected to this country’s highest office? If so, then those in long-term care may want to pay attention to what’s going on in the Badger State. Read More »
Four large healthcare trade organizations have sent letters to the Senate and House expressing concerns over a plan to use healthcare dollars to fund provisions in trade bills, resulting in cuts to Medicare. Read More »
The federal government says that HCR ManorCare routinely submitted false claims for rehabilitation therapy services that were not medically reasonable and necessary, but ManorCare asserts that the lawsuit boils down to a “billing dispute.” Read More »
Negligence has specific legal definitions—and personal injury lawyers love to muddy them. Long-Term Living legal blogger Alan C. Horowitz, RN, JD, explains what nursing homes can do to protect themselves. Read More »
Payments to skilled nursing facilities, quality reporting, value-based purchasing and staffing data collection are addressed in a proposed rule published April 20 in the Federal Register. Read More »
MedPAC, lawmakers call for payment revisions to cut costs and eliminate abuse in how post-acute care facilities are reimbursed to improve quality of care. Read More »
Fans and foes of the proposed BACPAC Act, which would bundle payments for post-acute care providers, testified during a recent House subcommittee hearing. Read More »
A new report from the AARP’s Public Policy Institute details the effects on Medicare beneficiaries who stay in a hospital under observation status rather than being admitted, and it offers recommendations to address the issue. Read More »
The U.S. Senate voted last night to repeal permanently the sustainable growth rate formula under which physicians are reimbursed for care they provide through Medicare. Several organizations representing aging services providers share their perspectives. Read More »
The American Nurses Association seeks public comment on its draft proposal of recommendations to prevent violence to ensure workplace safety by April 30 deadline. Read More »
Medicare postpayment claims reviews and state Medicaid sources of funds are two of 24 areas where fragmentation, overlap or duplication exists in the federal government, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office. Read More »
Healthy aging is the topic of the first policy brief released by the White House Conference on Aging. Additional briefs, on the other key topics being examined by the conference are expected in the future. Read More »
Providers and the professional associations advocating on their behalf may be focused on the sustainable growth rate and related issues, but a new survey finds that Medicare beneficiaries are more concerned about potential cost increases and service cuts. Read More »
Increasing the scope of practice for ABRNs and PAs who work in home healthcare, and reimbursing for HCBS for low-income, Medicare-only beneficiaries who need help with two or more ADLs, are the goals of two bipartisan bills introduced in Congress. Read More »
The National Transitions of Care Coalition launches an online database of applications, tools and educational resources for improving care transitions and quality outcomes. Read More »
Wherever patients are treated, their safety needs to be ensured. ECRI Institute has compiled a list of safety concerns for healthcare organizations that long-term care providers can benefit from. Read More »
A recent report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General identifies more than 25 ways that government agencies and programs could save money or improve quality. Read More »
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration updated its guidelines for preventing and reducing incidents of violence in healthcare settings. Read More »
The 2016 rates for Medicare Advantage plans won't be a dismal as predicted, according to final rate adjustments released today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Read More »
