Balancing act: Dementia care needs to change for safe integration
By
Josh Henreckson
Apr 12, 2024
The quality of life tradeoffs incurred due to tight safety protocols and isolation of nursing home residents during the COVID-19 pandemic demand more research and policy changes.
Why CMS is shifting its infection control focus to sepsis
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 11, 2024
BALTIMORE — Quality experts at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will be taking a closer look at sepsis rates in nursing homes while continuing broader efforts to improve infection control,...
New patient safety measures imminent as risk of harm evolves: CMS
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 10, 2024
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services remains acutely focused on patient harm and will introduce new measures addressing patient safety later this year, agency leaders said at an event in Baltimore...
Eschewing a ‘sweet spot’ for boutique-like service at any size: Creative Solutions’ Gary Blake
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 09, 2024
Gary Blake’s nameplate might say CEO, but in some ways, he envisions himself more as chief quality officer of Creative Solutions for Healthcare, the sprawling 159-facility skilled nursing company he...
Medicare Advantage rule finalizes independent appeals process, helping providers ‘stuck in the middle’
By
Josh Henreckson
Apr 08, 2024
A final rule announced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Thursday revised the appeals process for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries who have been denied coverage. The new rule should be a...
Bake sale-supported nursing home now pursues ‘fairer’ memory care swaps for survival
By
Josh Henreckson
Apr 05, 2024
A Rhode Island nursing home that had turned to a grassroots funding campaign that included a resident-run bake sale to avoid closure has announced a new plan to stabilize finances and remain open.
Behavior problems — not financial motivation — most often precede forced SNF discharges: OIG
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 04, 2024
Nursing homes most often initiated a discharge because a resident’s behavior endangered the resident or others in the facility, a rationale fully within their rights, a government watchdog reported Wednesday.
CMS provides first look at shorter, Risk-Based Survey process
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 04, 2024
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Wednesday revealed initial information about a potential “Risk-Based Survey” option that could be available to some of the nation’s best performing...
Cost, interpretation of new enhanced barrier precautions worry providers as rule kicks in
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 03, 2024
A new set of regulations requiring the use of enhanced barrier precautions for many nursing home patients has left providers scrambling to understand the rationale behind some standards and grappling with...
Providers grateful for certain opportunities in proposed 2025 Medicare pay rule
By
James M. Berklan
Apr 02, 2024
Even though debate will continue about how much Medicare reimbursement should rise next year, there’s little disagreement that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services got at least a few things right...