Policy

Hospice, home healthcare owners paying for fraud allegations

A hospice and a home healthcare agency are facing the consequences after being accused of committing healthcare fraud. Read More »

CMS issues 2014 Medicare payment rate updates

The Medicare payment updates for 2014 have been released. How can your facility best guide your own resident beneficiaries? Read More »

CMS clarifies ADL scoring process

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 »

New alliance dedicated to person-centered dementia care

As seniors become the dominant population in the American landscape, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are predicted to increase at an alarming rate. Read More »

Eroding the payer/provider divide

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 »

IRS increases tax deductions for LTC insurance

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 »

Minimizing workplace violence in LTC facilities

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 »

Medication prescribing reflects regional variations, study finds

Study investigates the geographical differences and patterns in drug prescribing and drug therapies for Medicare patients and the potential risks involved. Read More »

Bundling without bungling

Bundling payments is becoming a reality for many long-term and post-acute care communities, but do you know where to start? Read More »

CMS memo addresses ‘no CPR’ policies in nursing homes

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 »

Study of America’s ‘oldest old’ will continue data-gathering

An ongoing study focusing exclusively on the lifestyles and health issues of people in their ninth decade assembles data and information to accommodate this growing demographic. Read More »

Omnicare settles $120M kickback suit

Long-term care pharmacy giant Omnicare has agreed to pay $120 million to end a lawsuit alleging kickbacks for skilled nursing medications. Read More »

LTC financing is focus of November observance

One organization is using an annual observance to remind the public about the importance of planning for long-term care. Read More »

Public weighs in on federal health agencies

A new survey gauges public perception of several national government agencies and departments. See where your opinion fits in. Read More »

A vaccination update

Although seasonal vaccinations are good preventive steps to protect seniors from various health challenges, the inoculations may have some side effects. Kathleen Mears shares her experience with the shingles vaccination. Read More »

One-on-one with…Lisa Newcomb

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 »

Health insurance exchanges for small businesses focus of study

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 »

Know nursing home residents’ financial rights

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 »

Increase in use of meal delivery programs could reduce LTC facility admissions

New research illuminates a way for 26 states to save on long-term care costs but would come with a price for nursing homes. Read More »

Fact sheet highlights LGBT information for nursing home residents

A new fact sheet details the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender nursing home residents. Read More »

Seniors with chronic diseases overpaying for medications

Seniors with diabetes, COPD, heart disease or Alzheimer’s disease need to pay careful attention when choosing a drug coverage plan, a new study says. Read More »

Safety, quality goals of new NCAL collaboration

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 »

AHCA/NCAL finds a new voice in Washington

In an exclusive interview with Long-Term Living's Washington reporter, AHCA/NCAL’s new vice president of government relations, Clif Porter, explains his strategy to contact members, discuss their experiences and concerns, using that direct input to generate support in Congress. Read More »

Government shutdown halts nursing home inspections

Federal safety inspections are on hold in long-term care and other vital industries due to the government shutdown. Read More »

Culture change continues to evolve

From the seeds that were planted many years ago, culture change continues to grow, spread its roots and reshape itself to the needs of the elders it serves. Read More »

AHCA names ManorCare exec as government policy chief

A top executive from HCR ManorCare has been chosen to steer AHCA/NCAL’s lobby efforts and policy interests. Read More »

Public weighs in on long-term care funding options

A recent poll asking Americans for their opinions about the financing of long-term care revealed support of some ideas that surprised researchers. Read More »

Health insurance exchanges proceed despite shutdown, albeit with glitches

Federal and state government officials vow to fix website and call center issues as health insurance marketplaces receive overwhelming attention from consumers on the first days of operation. Read More »

AHCA report identifies trends and quality improvements in LTC

The faces of residents are changing and the industry is prepared to care for the “new” patients as well as the traditional long-term care residents it serves. Read More »

S.C. health system ordered to pay $276M in billing fines

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 »