CMS clarifies long-term care surveyor guidance on same-sex marriages
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 16, 2014
When they appear in Medicare and Medicaid regulations, terms such as “support person” and “next-of-kin” can include same-sex spouses in most instances, according to a recently issued...
Must-watch film shows ‘simple’ benefits of Green House care
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 16, 2014
A new long-term care documentary might eventually be called “the cattle prod” because it could be just the nudge needed to unify more communities to build a newer type of care home for the...
4 hospitalized after nursing home fire, officials praise sprinkler regulation
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 15, 2014
Four residents were hospitalized after a fire broke out at a North Carolina nursing home last week, according to local news sources. Officials said the building’s recently installed sprinkler system...
Political pressure impedes some nursing home overbilling investigations, WSJ claims
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 15, 2014
Pressure from politicians sometimes undermines efforts to stop overbilling by keeping Medicare and Medicaid payments flowing to nursing homes under investigation, The Wall Street Journal claimed in an...
‘Landmark’ study: Social media training increases nursing home residents’ cognition
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 15, 2014
Seniors in long-term care experienced multiple cognitive and emotional benefits from being trained in how to use social media, according to findings from a “landmark” study in the United Kingdom.
LTC facilities must extend spousal rights to same-sex married couples, CMS proposed rule states
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 12, 2014
Long-term care facilities in all states would have to recognize certain same-sex marriages in order to participate in Medicare and Medicaid, under a proposed rule released Thursday.
Code status ‘cheat sheet’ draws scrutiny, nursing home challenges neglect finding
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 12, 2014
A “cheat sheet” to track residents’ code status has become a source of controversy in the case of a Minnesota man who died without being given CPR, according to local news sources.
Impostor RN worked at 8 hospice companies, authorities charge
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 12, 2014
A Dallas woman has pleaded guilty to stealing the identity of a registered nurse and using that identity to work for eight hospice companies, authorities announced this week.
House panel hears testimony on site-neutral payments, potential for Medicaid cuts to providers
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 11, 2014
Site-neutral payments for post-acute services could potentially reduce federal spending on healthcare without compromising patient outcomes, a Medicare Payment Advisory Commission official told a Congressional...
2 dead after blaze at senior living facility in Dallas
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 11, 2014
Two people died in a massive fire in a Dallas senior living complex early Wednesday.