CBO analyzes Medicaid caps to curb federal healthcare spending
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 15, 2013
The federal government could reduce its Medicaid contributions to states as a deficit reduction measure, but the move likely would achieve savings only by putting seniors at risk, according to the Congressional...
Better Medicaid managed care oversight needed to protect providers serving high-risk populations: OIG
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 14, 2013
States are not doing a good job of monitoring how Medicaid managed care enterprises handle providers serving high-risk populations, according to a new government report. Five of six states evaluated in...
Researchers discover new way of curing MRSA
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 14, 2013
Targeting cells known as persisters is a new and highly effective way of eradicating methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, according to newly published research.
Oral health problems on track to become as common and serious as falls, incontinence in elderly: report
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 14, 2013
Unless steps are taken to improve dental hygiene in the elderly, oral healthcare will cause problems on the same scale as falls, incontinence and mobility limitations, according to recently published research.
Price increases, not a larger senior population, are responsible for exploding healthcare costs: analysts
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 13, 2013
Escalating healthcare costs in the United States cannot be pinned on an aging population demanding more services for chronic conditions. Instead, higher costs are primarily the result of price increases,...
Major insurers say they will hike premiums on long-term care policies
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 13, 2013
Long-term care insurance policyholders should expect rate hikes, two of the most prominent vendors in the market have announced.
Singing show tunes combats dementia: study
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 13, 2013
Long-term care operators might want to add show-tune sing-alongs to their dementia care plans, new research suggests.
MedPAC shows enthusiasm for equalizing SNF, inpatient rehab facility payments
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 12, 2013
More uniform reimbursements for skilled nursing facilities and inpatient rehabilitation facilities could be implemented soon, policy analysts recently told the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission. The...
More than 6,000 skilled nursing facilities achieved notable gains in the first year of the American Health Care Association’s Quality Initiative, the provider association announced yesterday.
Physician and hospital groups call for delay of ‘two-midnight rule’
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 12, 2013
A policy meant to reduce the number of hospital observation stays is not workable, and stakeholders should collaborate on more comprehensive solutions to the observation stay situation, according to the...