Policy

LeadingAge exec appointed to IOM health policy board

Robyn Stone, DrPH , is the senior vice president at LeadingAge and the executive director of the LeadingAge Center for Applied Research Read More »

SNFs repond to the new MDS-focused survey process

Have you experienced this new surveyor process yet? Be ready for scrutiny of your ADL services and documentation. Read More »

MA nursing homes must meet standards to advertise dementia care

Massachusetts nursing homes are no longer allowed to advertise memory care services unless they meet specific state standards for care. Will this become a trend nationwide? Read More »

Federal court upholds wage laws for home health workers

The law guarantees overtime and minimum wage protection to home healthcare workers. Read More »

Pace steps down from Advancing Excellence, joins Alzheimer’s Association

One of long-term care's busiest advocates and policy influencers shifts leadership to the Alzheimer's Association. Read More »

PharMerica, Amgen reach settlement

Kentucky and 25 other states accuse PharMerica Corp.of accepting payoffs to switch nursing home residents to Amgen product for anemia. Read More »

WVa now requires state, national criminal background checks for LTC workers

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources now requires fingerprint-based state and national criminal background checks for long-term care workers. Read More »

Nursing home sues state attorney general

One of seven New Mexico nursing homes being sued by state Attorney General Hector Balderas has struck back with a lawsuit of its own. Read More »

CMS extends execution delay for ‘two-midnight’ rule again

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has pushed the deadline for the "two-midnight" rule to the end of the year. Read More »

MA lawmakers propose new rules for closing, selling nursing homes

Massachusetts lawmakers are asking that the process companies go through to sell or close a nursing home become more public.  Read More »

Let’s talk about dying

The biggest fact of life is that everyone dies. As the clock takes its final ticks—whether it’s counting down the life of a loved one or yourself—do family and friends know how to honor your wishes? Read More »

Former ONC chief breathes new life into ACOs

The former head of the Office of the National Coordinator of Health IT (ONC), Farzad Mostashari, is making big waves in the accountable care organization (ACO) arena. His year-old company has applied to launch ACOs in seven more states next year. Read More »

An Obamacare repeal?

Expect another try by the GOP to repeal the Affordable Care Act. This latest attempt at repeal is tied to the federal budget. Read More »

Ohio may integrate convicts into nursing homes

The costs of caring for sick and frail older convicts are skyrocketing and soon so will the numbers of elderly inmates in the nation’s prison systems. The Ohio Department of Corrections thinks it has found the answer to reducing the state's costs of providing care. Read More »

Senator questions integrity of five-star nursing home rating system

Sen. Bob Casey (D-Penn.) has called for an investigation of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid's five-star nursing home compare tool.  Read More »

MDS assessment accuracy and quality outcome success

MDS coordinators are charged with the responsibility to ensure all of the data accurately reflects all residents and the care that is being provided to them. Read More »

Arizona law requires disclosure from in-home care agencies

One of the fastest-growing retirement states in the country, Arizona senior advocates applaud the state legislature for taking this first step toward transparency. Read More »

OSHA guide: Transgender restroom access

If you have transgender employees—even if you don’t—it’s important for employers to be aware of the requirements in providing restroom access based on gender indentification. Read More »

Assisted living owner turns off the air conditioning

An assisted living owner looking to sell the building puts the heat on residents to vacate the premises by turning off their air conditioning. Read More »

Happy birthday, Medicare & Medicaid

Happy birthday, Medicare and Medicaid—and can we say, you don’t look a day over 50. But, the healthcare world sure is different now, compared to when you were born. Read More »

CMS, Rhode Island partner on new dual-eligible care model

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is partnering with the state of Rhode Island to try out a new model for providing person-centered care to Medicare/Medicaid dual enrollees. Read More »

CMS: National health spending projections juggle expanded coverage, high-cost drugs

Overall national healthcare spending is expected to rise by modest amounts during the decade from 2014-2024, notes a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services budget report released today. Read More »

NOTICE Act receives full Senate approval

Legislation to inform Medicare beneficiaries of their outpatient status has passed through the legislative branch without a hitch. Now, it’s off to the White House. Read More »

CMS pilots program for joint hospice/curative care

A new pilot program model from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will test whether hospice care and curative care should be offered simultaneously, instead of asking terminally-ill patients to choose one or the other. Read More »

CMS proposes mandatory antibiotic stewardship programs in LTC

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' proposed rule would require long-term care facilities to establish an antibiotic stewardship program in order to participate in Medicare. Read More »

CMS proposes massive new rules for LTC industry

The 400-page proposal includes new rules to reduce hospitalizations, infections and resident risks. But, opponents question the financial impacts: Feds estimate the cost would be nearly $90,000 per facility over two years.  Read More »

OSHA inspections target tuberculosis in healthcare settings

A new directive is aimed to further reduce the risk of tuberculosis (TB) to employees working in healthcare settings, including new rules for screening and bloodwork. Read More »

Former CMS administrator Marilyn Tavenner to become AHIP president

Tavenner left her CMS post in January, and Andy Slavitt has been nominated by President Barack Obama to fill the position. Read More »

Proposed CMS rule would require health information exchange for LTC

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services wants all nursing homes and long-term care facilities to participate in health information exchange. Read More »

White House Conference on Aging: New program and initiative roundup

The White House Conference on Aging was held Monday, and several new programs and initiatives were announced.  Read More »