Safety committee’s records not privileged: federal court
By
James M. Berklan
Oct 05, 2015
A North Carolina nursing home operator can’t claim privilege in protecting documents created by its safety committee from discovery, a federal trial court has ruled.
More scrutiny ahead for Five-Star ratings
By
James M. Berklan
Oct 05, 2015
In a move that top nursing home lobbyists privately hoped wouldn’t come to pass, the Government Accountability Office announced in late August it will be investigating the federal nursing home rating...
PharMerica, Kindred settle kickback suit
By
James M. Berklan
Oct 05, 2015
Federal regulators were combing through out-of-court agreements at press time to discern whether settlement terms reached by PharMerica Corp. and Kindred Healthcare would pass regulatory muster.
Prohibit binding arbitration entirely? CMS was tempted
By
James M. Berklan
Sep 04, 2015
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is toughening its stance on the use of binding arbitration agreements for nursing home residents and their families. But the agency isn’t being as tough...
McKnight’s Senior Living and Daily Briefing debut
By
James M. Berklan
Aug 20, 2015
Senior living professionals have a new source of daily news, analysis and information from the most trusted media publisher in long-term care. McKnight’s Senior Living (www.McKnightsSeniorLiving.com)...
Providers fume over pay freeze
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 06, 2015
Long-term care providers quickly fired back after a congressional advisory committee recommended no Medicare pay increase for the coming year.
Campaign to archive dementia love stories stumbles
By
James M. Berklan
Jun 03, 2015
Jane Youell appeared to have hit the jackpot with her timing, but now that’s exactly what she still needs: a financial jackpot. The British researcher is attempting to build a first-ever love-and-dementia...
Answers about your top 5 technology challenges
By
James M. Berklan
May 13, 2015
I’ve learned after many years of covering long-term care that certain things are sure to arouse providers’ anger — over regulation, under payment and reckless media accounts among them. What...
Providers suffering Medicare appeals backlog — at their own hand?
By
James M. Berklan
Apr 29, 2015
If providers were charged a fee for challenging Recovery Audit Contractor findings, there wouldn’t be the current overwhelming backlog of Medicare appeals, says the administration — and, surprise,...
Volunteer calls out nursing homes for not delivering
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 23, 2015
After five years, Gary Gamponia says he has had enough frustration. His message to nursing home administrators and activities directors would likely be, “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going...