Forced staffing ratio for nursing homes, hospitals could cost $3B annually
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jun 26, 2019
Nursing homes and hospitals have been lumped together in pending New York legislation that increases nurse staffing ratios across the board, at a cost provider organizations estimate as $3 billion annually....
Providers receive two-year reprieve on non-emergency transport coverage
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jun 25, 2019
A month after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services planned to repeal a requirement that state Medicaid programs cover transportation for non-emergency medical care, the agency still has not acted....
Many SNFs with shaky quality records receiving government mortgage help
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jun 25, 2019
More than 15% of nursing homes listed as participants or candidates for an intensive quality monitoring program have mortgages backed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, a New York Times...
Bill could create 10 value-based purchasing standards for nursing homes
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jun 24, 2019
Legislation introduced late last week could significantly expand the way the government rewards success in nursing home care, laying the groundwork for as many as 10 value-based purchasing standards. Rep....
Traditional Medicare better than Medicare Advantage with hospital readmission rates
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jun 24, 2019
Medicare Advantage users have higher risk-adjusted 30-day hospital readmission rates compared to traditional Medicare beneficiaries, according to a study released Monday. The findings countered previous...
Nursing home costs significantly outpace inflation
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jun 20, 2019
Out-of-pocket nursing home costs grew as much as 30% between 2005 and 2010, according to new research from Georgetown University. The study, published in Medical Care Research and Review, examined prices...
Provider to pay nearly $1M to settle meal break, shift violation claims
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jun 20, 2019
Five Michigan skilled nursing facilities and an affiliated assisted living center have been ordered to pay back wages totaling almost $1 million, following an investigation by the Department of Labor....
Value-based care focus could erode regulatory safeguards, critics argue
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jun 20, 2019
Several healthcare advocacy organizations — and at least two government agencies — are supporting efforts that make it easier for medical providers to share information about or refer patients to their...
The package looked like a bomb. Police say it was meth for a nursing home employee.
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jun 19, 2019
The wrapping on an package left at New Jersey’s Brakeley Park Center last month was suspicious enough to warrant a call to the state bomb squad. Turns out, the first call should have been to the local...
Efforts build to end lockouts of in-house CNA training
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jun 18, 2019
A campaign to end the nurse-aid training lockout at facilities that have been hit with a significant civil monetary penalties appears to be gaining traction. Advocates for skilled nursing providers cheered...