Congress may be ready to do away with the sustainable growth rate (SGR), re-fix the “doc fix” and ditch therapy caps, but will skilled nursing become the scapegoat for the costs? Read More »
The recommendations made by the federal Commission on Long-Term Care related to long-term services and supports for seniors and disabled individuals are the focus of a Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing. Read More »
The Department of Health and Human Services and its oversight body, the Office of Inspector General, released reports this week identifying strategic goals for the next few years. Read More »
Makers of antibacterial products used in healthcare facilities are off the hook—for now. A recently announced FDA proposed rule on safety and effectiveness will be limited to over-the-counter soaps and body washes made for consumers. Read More »
The Office of Inspector General wants hospitalization rates to be added to CMS's nursing home quality rankings. But will the numbers tell the real story or just muddy the waters? Read More »
The financial penalties for not securing protected health information have become greater under the final Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act omnibus rule that went into effect Sept. 23. Taking certain actions can strengthen your ability to avoid violations. Read More »
Post-acute medication management and partnerships with long-term care facilities and others are two strategies put forth by two recent pieces of research examining ways to lower hospital readmissions. Read More »
Several recent multimillion dollar Medicare fraud case convictions and settlements relate to the actions or alleged actions of skilled nursing facilities, home healthcare agencies and durable medical equipment companies and their employees. Read More »
Continuing issues with a government website mean that, for now, small employers will need to go through an insurance company, agent or broker to enroll in medical plans through the new federal marketplace. Read More »
Healthcare attorney Alan C. Horowitz explains the background to the latest revisions to the CMS compliance rules on fire sprinklers in skilled nursing facilities. Read More »
Under a proposed bill, SNFs meeting certain criteria based on Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services quality ratings automatically would qualify to waive the prior hospitalization requirement for Medicare coverage of Part A skilled nursing care benefits. Read More »
CMS has revised its fire sprinkler compliance measure to ease the burden on facilities that are in the middle of sprinkler installations. But is the workaround just as challenging as the fire sprinkler citation? Read More »
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services emphasize the importance of following the “Rule of 3” sequence when coding activities of daily living, as noted in the recently updated RAI User's Manual. Read More »
Payers, providers and care networks are making vast efforts to combine care delivery, coverage and costs—merging control over the once-siloed segments of healthcare business. Will the post-acute care sector be the golden ticket to success or the cost-laden component that drags the system down? Read More »
If you or those for whom you care are concerned about how to pay for long-term care, you may be interested to learn that the Internal Revenue Service has increased the tax deductions allowed for the purchase of long-term care insurance policies in 2014. Read More »
OSHA is taking a harder look at workplace violence in long-term care facilities. These tips can help you prepare your staff and shore up your documentation procedures. Read More »
In March 2013, an elderly woman who died after not receiving CPR in her retirement community became national news and a focus of public outrage. CMS memo updates state surveyors on CPR policy in nursing homes. Read More »
It's estimated that more than 2 million seniors in New York will need some kind of long-term care by 2015. Read about the assisted living initiatives under way in that state—and how communities elsewhere might benefit. Read More »
If your facility employs 50 or fewer full-time workers, you may be interested in the results of a new study of the new Small Business Health Options Program through which companies like yours can purchase health insurance. Read More »
Ignorance is not bliss when it comes to nursing home residents' financial rights. Make sure you know your responsibilities and that residents know their rights. Read More »
Reducing resident safety events in assisted living communities is the aim of one of two new initiatives announced at the recent American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living annual meeting. Read More »
A South Carolina health system owes the government millions for fraudulent billings and violations of the Stark anti-kickback law for the way it funnelled business to its outpatient services. Read More »
