Medicare coverage for bariatric surgeries left up to discretion of administrative contractors
Jun 29, 2012
Long-term care operators struggling to meet the needs of obese residents could get some help from Medicare.
Why the likely demise of LTC insurance isn’t all bad
By
John O'Connor
Jun 22, 2012
Two decades ago, private long-term care insurance was seen as a can’t-miss option for funding future nursing home costs. But like many of the people who purchased policies back then, the product...
Care coordination, adoption of HIT pushed at tech conference
Jun 19, 2012
Forging partnerships with other providers and adopting health information technology are critical to the survival of long-term care providers, new guidelines recommend.
Medicaid audit contractors lag behind Medicare counterparts, federal officials admit
By
McKnight's Staff
Jun 08, 2012
Federal officials acknowledged in a House hearing Thursday that Medicaid’s recovery contractors have not been as successful as their Medicare counterparts in detecting fraud and recovering overpayments.
Voters give providers something to worry about
By
John O'Connor
Jun 08, 2012
GOP and Democratic strategists were watching the Wisconsin governorship recall race earlier this week as a possible harbinger of this fall’s presidential election. But that’s a shortsighted...
Number of physicians rising, but geriatrics continues to struggle
By
McKnight's Staff
May 04, 2012
Although the number of medical students is skyrocketing, healthcare officials say they are concerned whether enough future physicians will choose geriatrics or primary care.
Triple threat: One day’s reports fuel chest-thumping, angst
By
James M. Berklan
Apr 25, 2012
Monday was a remarkable day, even by Washington spinmeister standards. In fact, we here at McKnight’s had to look two times — nay, three — to make sure we had seen correctly.
New SNF business models and alligators
By
John O'Connor
Apr 02, 2012
There’s an old adage that goes something like this: It’s hard to remember that your objective was to drain the ditch when you are up to your waist in alligators.
Program to reduce hospital readmissions would link nursing homes with partners
By
McKnight's Staff
Mar 15, 2012
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is setting aside $128 million for organizations that collaborate with nursing homes to establish programs that prevent residents from going back to hospitals...
Nursing home meth lab fire kills one, hospitalizes five
By
McKnight's Staff
Mar 07, 2012
Investigators are blaming an Ohio nursing home fire — which killed one person and hospitalized five others — on a methamphetamine lab in a resident’s room.