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 »
Technology-related issues and trends in long-term care were on the agenda when Larry Wolf, health information technology strategist with post-acute service provider Kindred Healthcare, recently spoke with Long-Term Living. Read More »
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 »
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 »
Core Medicare and Medicaid operations will not be affected by a federal government shutdown that began today, but a broad range of other federal operations will be affected. The Affordable Care Act itself has largely been funded already and will not be directly affected. ACA-created health insurance exchanges also are live as scheduled. Read More »
An annual Oct. 1 observance is designed to draw attention to aging-related issues and those who are trying to address them. A new report released in conjunction with this year's observance looks at health status, societal programs and other issues related to the elderly around the world. Read More »
After a weekend of squabbling over the federal budget, the Senate has rejected a proposal to delay the Affordable Care Act. With the budget crisis still unsolved in the 11th hour, what would a government shutdown mean for long-term care? Read More »
An alternative to fee-for-service programs may help nursing homes provide appropriate, affordable care for elderly residents with significant cognitive impairment, new research suggests. Read More »
One-third of the membership of the federal Commission on Long-Term Care say that recommendations issued by the commission Sept. 13 are not broad enough, so they have issued alternative suggestions. Meanwhile, organizations representing the long-term care industry react to the official commission report. Read More »
In the midst of World Alzheimer’s Month and a day before Alzheimer’s Action Day, the World Alzheimer Report 2013 has been released, containing seven recommendations to address the disease globally. Read More »
Improved policies and payment models could see more individuals being treated in skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities as the country looks for ways to reduce costs and unnecessary hospitalizations, one expert believes. Read More »
An academic powerhouse and several senior living service providers are joining forces to try to find ways to increase the quality of long-term care while decreasing unnecessary healthcare spending. Read More »
The effectiveness of fire sprinklers in long-term care settings isn't usually front-page news, but without properly installed fire suppression devices, the results could be devastating. Read More »
A study of more than 11,500 nursing homes reveals racial disparities in care, and researchers have some ideas about why – and some potential solutions, too. Read More »
Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs) are doing an effective job of rooting out Medicare fraud and billing errors, but federal Medicare agencies need to be more diligent about tracking cases, a new government report says. Read More »
Same-sex couples will no longer be denied visitation of a partner in a nursing home, according the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. They will also have access to equal coverage in the facility where spouses live. Read More »
Population trends mean that the current model of family members serving as the primary caregivers for their elders may not work in the future, according to some policy advisers. Read More »
Device improvements as well as changes in government incentives, nursing staffing levels and the size of the senior population will lead to greater adoption of telemedicine in long-term care, but reimbursement remains a challenge for now. Read More »
New research reveals how nursing homes can improve their scores on satisfaction surveys of residents and families. The findings could take on added significance as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services considers moves that could affect the way SNFs are reimbursed. Read More »
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services birthed several key initiatives last year, including edicts to reduce unnecessary antipsychotic drug doses, preventable readmissions and avoidable infections. In other words, edicts for long-term care to do its job right. Read More »
Some nonprofit organizations and a government agency are singing the praises of the Medicare and Medicaid programs as they observe the 48th anniversary of being signed into law. Read More »
Appropriate care for many conditions that affect long-term care residents not only can reduce avoidable hospitalizations, but save healthcare dollars as well. Read More »
Differences in the use of care at SNFs, rehab facilities and other post-acute settings largely account for variation in Medicare spending across geographic areas, according to a new report. Read More »
LTC facilities know that the best census maintenance comes from a great relationship with the local referring hospital. But increasingly, the community win-win factor for LTC is in making the right friends, and in partnering with the right local service partners before your competition does Read More »
Advocates for seniors in Iowa want answers to how Medicaid money is spent. Meanwhile the Iowa Department of Human Resources isn’t ready to take a stand on disclosure. Read More »
Washington correspondent Bob Gatty shares his recent conversation with Mark Parkinson, AHCA president/CEO, on LTC's efforts to bring equitable solutions to Washington's challenges. Read More »
