Abbott Labs reaches settlement for its marketing of the anti-seizure drug Depakote for conditions for which it had not received Food and Drug Administration approval. Read More »
When assisted living is no longer the appropriate care setting for an individual, a “move out” may be necessary. Regulations regarding resident eviction reasons and notifications vary from state to state. Read More »
Many LTC facilities and hospices across the nation will be affected by the Office of the Inspector General’s (OIG’s) work plan underway for 2012. Here’s an overview of key initiatives. Read More »
OSHA’s program, a National Emphasis Program, is aimed at reducing workplace injuries specifically in long-term care, and will cover nursing homes, residential mental retardation facilities and continuing care retirement communities. Read More »
The National Labor Relations Board was issued an injunction delaying implementation of a rule requiring employers to post a notice in the workplace informing employees of their right to unionize. Read More »
In its recommendations, OIG suggested CMS add more specific emergency planning protocol to existing federal requirements for nursing home disaster preparedness. Read More »
When it is time for the walk-around tour, take the compliance officer where he or she needs to go and nowhere else. You may be proud of your facility and want to show it off, but that doesn’t mean they will see it in the same light as you. Read More »
For the new National Emphasis Program, OSHA will target LTC facilities with a days-away-from-work rate of 10 or higher per 100 full-time workers. Read More »
CMS said it backtracked on its proposal because the policy “would be highly disruptive to the industry” without reducing drug utilization, according to news reports. Read More »
The government protects employees’ rights to engage in "concerted activity" for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection. You might be surprised how far-reaching these protections can be, even in long-term care settings. Read More »
SNFs are an area of focus for audits by Medicare contractors. The OIG list of potential problem areas has become known as the OIG “hit list.” In fact, expect an even higher level of attention this year than in the past. Read More »
RACs are now allowed to request a maximum of 400 medical records in a 45-day period, while SNFs must provide documentation for Medicare beneficiaries’ entire episodes of care. Read More »
A new mandate included in the Affordable Care Act requires a compliance and ethics program for nursing home providers. To achieve quality care through this regulation, staff education on RAI processes will become necessary. Read More »
LTC educator and consultant Leah Klusch offers critical guidance in navigating upcoming revisions in the resident assessment process. Providers, take note: The definitions for many terms and items have been changed. Read More »
Keeping pathways to survival clear is a disaster preparation that should be addressed every day. If everything is in its place and not blocking exits, evacuation is easier and more successful. Read More »
A recent series of unfortunate headlines, throughout both the United States and abroad, has shown the painful, and even deadly, results of resident aggression manifested into physical form. Read More »
The proposed rule for Stage 2 of meaningful use was being readied for publication in the Federal Register after an electronic formatting snafu had delayed its formal publication. Read More »
Survey excellence should be a professional goal of all healthcare workers. I suggest a three-step approach to encouraging complete staff involvement: the Focus Review, the Fast Track and the Survey Prime. Read More »
The CMS announcement followed a separate HHS report finding that the government had recovered nearly $4.1 billion in healthcare fraud cases during FY2011. Read More »
Advanced Standing, a four-year pilot program, will expand oversight of assisted living facilities in the state and for the first time collect quality data on these facilities. Read More »
Bethany Health Care Center, Framingham, Mass., has made U.S. News & World Report's annual list of top-rated nursing homes three times. Its administrator explains the simple formula for her community's success. Read More »
The Measures Application Partnership is recommending a coordinated performance measurement that promotes quality improvement across the industry. Read More »
The current Medicare payment policy for hospital “never events” has created risks for unassuming post-acute providers. Nursing homes, assisted living facilities and CCRCs need to prepare for the coming impact. Read More »
Gov. Quinn has boosted nursing home funding by millions of dollars to help carry out safety reforms passed in 2010. This is because the state won’t have to touch its own coffers to distribute the cash. Read More »
Preparedness and safety are not to be ignored. They determine how successfully an adverse event may be mitigated. And in long-term care communities, disaster training and drills are required. Read More »
