C. diff spotlight: Vaccine trial and caregiver checklist
By
Tim Mullaney
Aug 07, 2013
Back in June, I declared medication to be the long-term care topic of the summer. But this week, a different topic has stolen the spotlight: Clostridium difficile.
Bill to redefine full-time employment would ease nursing homes’ ACA compliance
By
Tim Mullaney
Aug 07, 2013
A recently introduced House bill would change the Affordable Care Act’s definition of full-time employment, which has been a sticking point for long-term care providers seeking to comply with the...
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently finalized 2014 Medicare rate updates for hospices and inpatient rehabilitation facilities, and also laid out quality metrics. Hospices will receive...
Proposed legislation from the House of Representatives would decrease skilled nursing facilities’ Medicare rate updates, introduce new post-acute payment systems and institute readmissions penalties...
Acute, post-acute bundled payments are ‘readily achievable,’ report finds
By
Tim Mullaney
Aug 06, 2013
Current patient classification systems could form the basis of a successful bundled payment program for acute and post-acute care, according to a recently published article in the Medicare & Medicaid Research...
Kindred shifts allegiance to Omnicare from PharMerica
By
Tim Mullaney
Aug 01, 2013
Kindred Healthcare will split with PharMerica and instead partner with Omnicare in 2014, marking a significant change in the landscape of long-term care pharmacy services providers.
SNFs may help enroll: CMS
By
Tim Mullaney
Aug 01, 2013
Organizations may serve as authorized representatives for nursing home residents in the Medicaid application and enrollment process, according to a final rule issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid...
Mandate delay gives prep time
By
Tim Mullaney
Aug 01, 2013
The Obama administration has delayed implementing a key part of the Affordable Care Act, and a legal expert said operators should seize this opportunity.
CMS revises hospice rules
By
Tim Mullaney
Aug 02, 2013
A long-term care provider and its hospice partner will need to draw up a detailed contract, according to a final rule released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and published in the Federal...
Slow gardener, fast study
By
Tim Mullaney
Aug 01, 2013
Stephen McAlilly, CEO and president, Mississippi Methodist Senior Services