The California Public Employees’ Retirement System, the country's third-largest health benefits purchaser, dropped a bombshell on its long-term care policyholders—switch LTC policies or deal with a massive rate increase. Read More »
With the clock ticking on March 1 Medicare cuts to nursing homes resulting from the onset of the federal Budget Relief Act's sequester provision, the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care on Wednesday released a state "Top Ten List" detailing the Medicare cut total to state nursing homes, their residents and their workforce. Read More »
A new report from the Office of Inspector General accuses skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) of misusing their Medicare payments, since more than one-third of SNFs don’t fulfill—or even create—the care plans and discharge goals required for their residents. Read More »
Widely recognized by his bushy beard and somber uniform, former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop became a household name for his anti-smoking campaign. Read More »
The Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care (AQNHC) on Monday praised the introduction of New York Senator Chuck Schumer's (D-NY) bill, the Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act, which changes Medicare law to permit nursing home residents access to skilled nursing care after hospital “observation stays.” Read More »
The conventional understanding of the assisted living category of senior care is just that—senior care—without a clear explanation of the populations served. Read More »
How many of your residents are on track to exceed the $1,900 payment cap on physical or occupational therapies? We examine the current therapy cap situation, and why it's such a challenge for long-term and post-acute care. Read More »
Florida’s governor, once one of the loudest voices against “ObamaCare,” has done a policy about-face and now supports limited Medicaid expansion in the state. Read More »
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released its proposals for rate and payment changes for 2014. Seniors may be happy about the Part D drug changes, but insurers aren't as pleased with their end of deal. Read More »
Some $85 billion in across-the-board cuts in federal programs are expected to take place between March 1 and September 30 unless Congress, with some form of last minute heroics, can cut a deal to avoid those reductions, mandated by law, from being imposed. Read More »
The stunning news earlier this week that Pope Benedict XVI was stepping down as leader of the Catholic Church put all the complicated and often confounding issues surrounding aging in a global spotlight. Read More »
President Barack Obama addressed challenges and opportunities facing the federal Medicare program, citing value-based purchasing in particular as an important change to the U.S. healthcare system, as well as proposing changes in pharmaceutical policy and in Medicare rules for wealthy seniors. Read More »
Hospitals made little progress on hospital readmission rates between 2008 and 2010, and some regions have far more readmissions than the national average. Read More »
The government’s healthcare fraud prevention and enforcement efforts recovered $4.2 billion in Fiscal Year (FY) 2012, up from nearly $4.1 billion in FY 2011, from individuals and companies that attempted to defraud federal health programs. Read More »
New trio of commissioners brings a wealth of experience to addressing the serious issues of services and supports for seniors and others with disabilities across the healthcare continuum. Read More »
A new reporting system, created by CMS, will enable long-term care hospitals to provide more complete and accurate data on the quality of care their patients receive. Read More »
The Congressional Budget Office on Tuesday released dismal statistics on how many employers may stop offering health benefits because of the new employer-based health plan rules. Read More »
The Congressional Budget Office lowered spending expectations for Medicare and Medicaid for 2013-2023, according to a report released Tuesday. Read More »
Modern detergents and new laundering technologies have prompted the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services to revise the laundry notes under F tag 411. Read More »
How much do you know about your GPO? CMS has instituted stricter disclosure rules pertaining to the financial relationships between providers and drug and device manufacturers. Read More »
The Obama Administration on Friday said it would seek public comment on a new "opt-out" provision that is designed to meet the concerns of faith-based opponents to the earlier contraceptive mandate proposed for the ACA. Read More »
The Affordable Care Act requires states to have policies to combat fraud, but each state can choose how to do it. A new database shows what each state is doing to combat Medicaid fraud on their home turf. Read More »
For the first time, rheumatoid arthritis will take the healthcare spotlight in a day of education. It is a devastating disease that can afflict both the young and old. Read More »
