FDA orders recommended dosages of sleeping pills to be halved
Jan 14, 2013
The Food and Drug Administration is requiring manufacturers of certain sleeping pills, including the widely prescribed Ambien, to reduce current recommended dosages.
More than 100 new ACOs created, highlighting importance of model for long-term care
By
McKnight's Staff
Jan 11, 2013
The creation of more than 100 new Accountable Care Organizations was announced Thursday, the latest example from the Department of Health and Human Services of promoting a coordinated care model over a...
House Republicans aim to block board’s Medicare authority
Jan 04, 2013
Republican House leaders say they will continue to fight a part of the healthcare reform law that could lead to Medicare spending reductions without direct input from Congress. The House was scheduled...
Long-term care providers dodge bullets in fiscal cliff deal, but CLASS (Act) is out
Jan 03, 2013
Long-term operators are cheering that Congress averted cutting Medicare payments through sequestration this week, and they’re glad that another one-year postponement of physician pay cuts didn’t...
Reach of ACOs hits 31 million individuals
By
James M. Berklan
Jan 02, 2013
Accountable care organizations are already beginning to change the landscape of American healthcare, veteran observers say.
Feds lax on bedrails, Congressman insists
By
James M. Berklan
Jan 02, 2013
Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA) called on federal regulators to step up oversight of bed rail regulations. The congressman spoke out in the aftermath of a tough investigation into bed rail entrapment.
Feds limit Medicaid picks
By
James M. Berklan
Jan 02, 2013
While the administration has been flexible about numerous aspects of Medicaid expansion called for in the healthcare reform law, there is at least one thing that is not negotiable: States will not get...
OIG report seeks increased safeguards in the EHR arena
By
John O'Connor
Jan 02, 2013
The move to electronic health records recently had a red flag thrown in front of it by a report from the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Groups blast new IRS device tax rules
By
John O'Connor
Jan 02, 2013
Internal Revenue Service guidance released in December spells out how a 2.3% excise tax on medical devices would be carried out.
Fish oil helps heal bed sores among the critically ill: study
By
John O'Connor
Jan 01, 2013
Fish oil may help residents experience fewer pressure ulcers, according to researchers at Tel Aviv University in Israel.