Same-sex couples will no longer be denied visitation of a partner in a nursing home, according the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. They will also have access to equal coverage in the facility where spouses live. Read More »
Population trends mean that the current model of family members serving as the primary caregivers for their elders may not work in the future, according to some policy advisers. Read More »
New drug-extraction techniques have turned the spotlight back on how CBD can help to treat those with neurological tremor disorders like Parkinson’s—and the new interest in a “transformed” version of medical marijuana. Read More »
Nursing homes participating in a new initiative may gain competitive advantages, organizers say. In the process, they could collect data helpful in establishing uniform national standards and evidence-based best practices. Read More »
Residents with dementia face another challenge in the area of sexuality. Long-Term Living blogger Kathleen Mears reviews and comments on a recent news item. Read More »
The passage of the Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2013 could resolve beneficiaries’ access to SNF care with revision of CMS rule on observation stays. Read More »
Massachusetts regulators work to close a loophole that allows senior care sites to advertise dementia services even though staff might have no dementia-specific training. Read More »
New research reveals how nursing homes can improve their scores on satisfaction surveys of residents and families. The findings could take on added significance as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services considers moves that could affect the way SNFs are reimbursed. Read More »
From medical-model nursing homes to the advent of Medicare/Medicaid to the adoption of the ACA and beyond, caring for our seniors has been a constantly evolving mission and challenge. Read More »
Farzad Mostashari, head of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) for the past four years, has announced his resignation. Read More »
Elder abuse can take many forms. A network talk show recently covered the subject in an effort to educate and inform the public of the need for vigilance and oversight. Read More »
Government, university and nonprofit organization representatives suggested ways to improve Medicare- and Medicaid-related long-term supportive services and private long-term care insurance at yesterday’s hearing of the federal Commission on Long-Term Care. Read More »
Some nonprofit organizations and a government agency are singing the praises of the Medicare and Medicaid programs as they observe the 48th anniversary of being signed into law. Read More »
Differences in the use of care at SNFs, rehab facilities and other post-acute settings largely account for variation in Medicare spending across geographic areas, according to a new report. Read More »
States are encountering increasing demands for non-Medicaid services, such as senior centers and transportation services, but they are not increasing funding for such services, according to a new report. Read More »
Following President Obama’s July 2 announcement to delay the employer insurance benefits mandate required by the ACA, the U.S. House voted today to delay the individual insurance mandate as well. But will the Senate agree? Read More »
After one year, quality benchmarks may be up, but cost savings are not—and nine ACOs have decided to leave the Pioneer ACO program, CMS announced today. Read More »
More than 280 public health experts put their heads together to come up with 30 ways to promote cognitive functioning and address impairment. A new report contains advice for those working with or caring for those with dementia. Read More »
Because of the state’s shortage of nursing homes, seniors in Northern Kentucky are moving across the Ohio River to facilities in southwest Ohio. And Ohio taxpayers are footing more than half the bill for many of these displaced Kentucky Medicaid residents. Read More »
If the employer insurance mandate gets a one-year postponement, so should the individual insurance mandate, says House Speaker John Boehner. Read More »
Everyone wants to be a star—even nursing facilities. It’s good for residents, families, staff and business to be on the top tiers of satisfaction. Although Medicare's Five-Star Rating System isn’t perfect and has its detractors, it has been effective, according to a recent study. Read More »
Advocates for seniors in Iowa want answers to how Medicaid money is spent. Meanwhile the Iowa Department of Human Resources isn’t ready to take a stand on disclosure. Read More »
A new payment proposal from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) could impact the reimbursements for long-term care hospitals, post-acute care and rehab facilities. Read More »
Washington correspondent Bob Gatty shares his recent conversation with Mark Parkinson, AHCA president/CEO, on LTC's efforts to bring equitable solutions to Washington's challenges. Read More »
There’s a brand-new imaging test available to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, but it’s so expensive that CMS is limiting the Medicare coverage of the test to two circumstances. Read More »
The Obama administration changed course on July 2 on a key provision of the Affordable Care Act, when it announced a one-year delay in the ACA’s employer mandate requiring provision of health insurance to employees. Corporations had objected to the mandate, which will now take effect in January 2015. Read More »
