Researchers recommend attacking loneliness to lower seniors’ costs, doctor visits
By
John Hall
Apr 02, 2015
More aggressive interventions with lonely elders may significantly decrease physician visits and healthcare costs, authors of a recent study conclude.
Off-label promotions of diabetes meds sometimes nonsensical, watchdog warns FDA
By
John Hall
Apr 02, 2015
The nation’s leading consumer watchdog is asking the Food and Drug Administration to prohibit direct-to-consumer diabetes drug advertising promoting unapproved off-label benefits like weight and...
Supreme Court: Providers can’t sue for higher Medicaid rates
By
John Hall
Apr 01, 2015
The Supreme Court dealt a serious blow to Medicaid residential care providers on Tuesday in a ruling that prohibits them from suing for higher reimbursement to recoup escalating costs.
Highest Court takes a pass on MedPAC-replacement case
By
John Hall
Apr 01, 2015
Attorneys working to abolish the Independent Payment Advisory Board vowed Tuesday to fight the IPAB’s first board action, whenever it might come. On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear...
Study: Antidepressants over-hyped for treating anxiety
By
John Hall
Apr 01, 2015
A new peer-reviewed study is casting doubts on the efficacy of second-generation antidepressants for treating anxiety, placing much of the blame on various publishing bias of other works.
Medicare physician pay cuts officially kick in Wednesday
By
John Hall
Mar 31, 2015
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said it will hold physician claims for 14 calendar days, thereby delaying 21% rate cuts otherwise set to take effect Wednesday.
Numerous Medicare funding ‘extenders’ at risk for expiration
By
John Hall
Mar 31, 2015
While long-term care professionals have at least two more weeks to agonize over the fate of a bill that would permanently repeal the current Medicare physicians funding formula, a host of other key funding...
Assisted living residents’ nude calendar needs second printing
By
John Hall
Mar 31, 2015
Nearly four months into the year, a 2015 calendar sporting nude photographs of the residents of Pleasant Pointe Assisted Living in Akron, OH, are still flying out the door — so much so that a second...
Study: Inpatient rehab shows no advantage over at-home therapy
By
John Hall
Mar 30, 2015
Inpatient rehabilitation following knee replacement surgery provides no advantage over at-home therapy in terms of mobility, recovery and pain management, according to new study findings. Researchers also...
Nursing home liable in overdose death of employee, lawsuit claims
By
John Hall
Mar 30, 2015
A California nursing home owner should be held liable in the drug overdose death of its long-time dietary supervisor because it failed to properly supervise the destruction of narcotics or maintain logs...