$350,000 bail set for woman accused of stabbing SNF nurse in head, hands
By
John Hall
May 06, 2015
The daughter of a Chicago nursing home resident faces multiple counts of aggravated battery and is being held in lieu of bail after stabbing a male nurse Saturday.
Study strengthens diabetes-Alzheimer’s link
By
John Hall
May 06, 2015
Washington University School of Medicine researchers believe they have found closer definitive links between diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease after discovering elevated blood glucose levels stimulate...
House bill would eliminate RAC contingency fees, penalize bad auditors
By
John Hall
May 05, 2015
Pending legislation would grant hospitals and other providers their wish of replacing percentage-based fees with flat fees on Medicare claims denied by recovery audit contractors.
Current budget proposal includes plans to chisel away the ACA
By
John Hall
May 05, 2015
As the Senate narrows in on its budget goals, details are emerging from Congressional budget negotiations that aim to disintegrate the Affordable Care Act piece by piece. Negotiators also hope to cut Medicare...
CMS to expand Pioneer ACO program
By
John Hall
May 05, 2015
A government-sanctioned study published Monday in the Journal of the American Medical Association declared Pioneer ACOs saved more than $385 million in a two-year period, prompting the Administration to...
Certain brand name meds drive up Part D prices, CMS finds
By
John Hall
May 04, 2015
A popular acid reflux medication was the costliest drug paid for by Medicare Part D in 2013, while a blood pressure medication was the most frequently prescribed, according to a new report on prescription...
Most older adults OK with dementia screening by phone: Study
By
John Hall
May 02, 2015
People who believe in the benefits of catching medical problems early or have friends or loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease tend to openly embrace advanced screening for dementia, according to new...
Senate to vote this week on new federal budget
By
John Hall
May 02, 2015
The U.S. Senate is scheduled to vote this week on a federal budget that promises to balance itself in nine years through billions of cuts in social programs and billions of extra dollars to defense.
Shady practitioners often go undetected across state lines: Report
By
John Hall
May 01, 2015
Nursing homes with visiting physicians or providers would do well to uncover their troubled histories with Medicaid or Medicare programs in other states or face billing nightmares, and worse, federal scrutiny.
Plan would address inspection backlog, limit inspection duties
By
John Hall
May 01, 2015
California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) is reportedly seeking to realign nursing home inspection and oversight duties to address a chronic backlog of investigations into abuse and other violations, while limiting...