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Policy

2015 Business Outlook: Important dates

Antipsychotic medications and therapy are just two aspects of care delivery that will be affected by deadlines in 2015. Read More »

Coalition challenges the Dietary Guidelines for Americans

A coalition claims federal nutritional guidelines ignore the nutritional needs of children, older adults and ethnic minorities. Read More »

Tennessee will use federal funding to experiment with LTSS

Tennessee will receive up to $65 million over the next two years to implement and test its State Health Care Innovation Plan, including the provision of long-term services and supports. Read More »

Nursing home care, rehab hospital care not equal, group maintains

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission should reject a proposal to pay the same amount for rehabilitation care whether it occurs in an inpatient rehabilitation hospital or a nursing home, the American Medical Rehabilitation Providers Association says. Read More »

2015 Business Outlook: Payment

In the first installment of a multi-part series examining challenges in the new year, Long-Term Living explores why some government initiatives under testing or development give pause to many providers serving older adults. Read More »

Same-sex marriage recognition would be required under rule

Long-term care facilities that do not recognize residents’ same-sex marriages would be ineligible to receive Medicare or Medicaid funding under a rule proposed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Read More »

Camera catches nurse slapping resident

Elderly Americans have a new ally in preventing abuse by family, staff, home caregivers or other residents--the surveillance camera. A recent alleged case of abuse in New York was captured on camera. Read More »

Ezekiel Emanuel: Meaning, not length, most important in life

Some may have been misled by a recent essay in The Atlantic, author Ezekiel Emanuel, MD, PhD, says. His published views on aging and the end of life, however, have implications for policymakers and professional caregivers. Read More »

White House Conference on Aging plans 5 in-person events

Boston, Cleveland, Phoenix, Seattle and Tampa will host events covering retirement security, healthful aging, long-term services and supports and elder justice. Read More »

PHI releases occupational projections, names policy chief

A new analysis examines job growth potential and pay of home care workers and nursing assistants, and the organization conducting it names a new policy chief to advocate on behalf of these workers. Read More »

‘Site-neutral’ payment proposal pits rehab hospitals against nursing homes

A group representing providers of intensive rehabilitation is calling into question a proposal that potentially would divert patients to nursing homes for such care. Read More »

Reducing fraud goal of new CMS rule

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced a new rule that is says will help save more than $327 annually by increasing oversight of Medicare providers. Read More »

Incoming ALFA chief’s priorities include fortifying ties, implementing agenda

James Balda tells Long-Term Living that strengthening relationships with state chapters and affiliates and implementing an ambitious agenda will be his priorities when he assumes his new role Jan. 15. Read More »

LGBT employees protected under new federal rule

A new federal rule will prohibit some employers from discriminating on the bases of sexual orientation and gender identity. Will you be affected? Read More »

Spending on nursing facility, CCRC care was $155.8 billion in 2013, CMS says

Spending on care in nursing facilities and continuing care retirement communities totaled $155.8 billion in 2013, according to new data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. This amount represents growth of 2.4 percent, compared with 2.0 percent in 2012. Read More »

ALFA names new leader

The Assisted Living Federation of America has named James Balda as its next president and CEO. He will be at the helm as the organization announces a name change, a credentialing program and professional standards. Read More »

CMS tweaks shared savings program to add more time, options for ACOs

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services wants to ease the time lines for accountable care organizations participating in its shared savings program. Read More »

Payment for care after hip, knee replacement focus of AHCA comments to CMS

The American Health Care Association has suggested to CMS several changes to an outcome and efficiency measure that would affect payments to skilled nursing facilities for the care of those who have undergone total hip or knee arthroplasty. Read More »

Medicare co-payment for home healthcare bad idea, group says

Re-establishing a co-payment for the Medicare home health benefit would exacerbate the challenges facing U.S. seniors related to access, coordination and person-centered care, according to the Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare. Read More »

Wracked by RACs?

Sooner or later, most skilled nursing facilities encounter recovery audit contractors (RACs). A healthcare legal expert explains how to handle RAC visits and what to do when claims are denied. Read More »

White House Conference on Aging agenda items recommended by associations

Leaders in organizations representing seniors housing and services providers share with Long-Term Living their wish lists for the upcoming White House Conference on Aging. Do you agree with their picks? Read More »

SNFs, hospice and home health programs prominent in OIG work plan for 2015

The billing, hiring, care-provision and deficiency-correction practices of nursing homes, hospices and home health programs are among the areas to be targeted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General in 2015. Read More »

Addicts target nursing home dumpsters to get a fix

Trash receptacles behind nursing homes and other care facilities are becoming a goldmine for drug addicts in search of controlled medications. Read More »

Older Americans have easy access to specialists, survey finds

A survey of older adults in 11 countries turns up interesting data on how efficiently people in industrialized nations can access and interact with their healthcare providers. Read More »

Ensuring care quality a challenge for HHS, OIG says

Ensuring quality in nursing home, hospice and home- and community-based settings is one of the top challenges facing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), according to a new report from the HHS Office of Inspector General. Read More »

Elder abuse victims to benefit from PA task force recommendations

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will consider an Elder Law Task Force report as a guide to protect the state's older adults from abuse and neglect. Read More »

The battle over immigration reform

One of the first political “hot potatoes” the new Congress must address is amnesty for illegal immigrants, which would present long-term care organizations a broader pool of potential caregivers. Read More »

CMS proposes to add annual lung cancer screening for high-risk seniors

CMS has followed the lead of a preventive services agency and proposed coverage of annual lung cancer screenings for certain older adults. But can Medicare afford it? Read More »

Aging research to receive $23M in funding from NIA

Two centers and 11 projects studying ways to improve cognition, decision-making, mobility and the independence of older people are expected to receive more than $23 million in funding over five years from the National Institute on Aging. Read More »

What the election results mean for you

What's in store for those who serve older Americans now that the political landscape will be changing? Several leaders of associations representing providers share their thoughts with Long-Term Living. Read More »