25 nursing homes swept up in wage-withholding investigation
By
Josh Henreckson
Jan 11, 2024
The US Department of Labor has filed a complaint against the operator of 25 Massachusetts nursing homes, alleging that it systematically withheld break and overtime pay at those facilities in violation...
Nursing operator must issue back pay after abruptly ending shift-differential perk
By
Josh Henreckson
Jan 09, 2024
The National Labor Relations Board sided with a union’s request to have shift-differential pay reinstated and back pay issued after a nursing home’s new owner unilaterally ended the incentive practice...
Long-term care leaders cheer proposed Medicare Advantage appeals rule in final push
By
Josh Henreckson
Jan 08, 2024
A surge of public and professional support arrived Friday as the comment period closed for a proposed federal rule that providers say could level the playing field with Medicare Advantage plans.
AI in healthcare: Trends for rehab professionals to watch in 2024
By
Renee Kinder
Jan 04, 2024
Artificial Intelligence (AI) — what does this really mean to you in your day-to-day patient care? We hear the acronym constantly, and we know we are told its use is growing. However, many skilled rehab...
HHS chief returns focus of low COVID-19 vax rates to nursing homes
By
James M. Berklan
Jan 04, 2024
The nation’s top health official met with US nursing home leaders for the second time in two weeks Wednesday to discuss what he called concerningly low COVID-19 vaccination rates among long-term care...
New federal initiatives increase criminal enforcement concerns for nursing homes
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jan 03, 2024
Already facing heightened regulatory pressure, skilled nursing operators could find themselves the subject of more criminal investigations in 2024 with the Biden administration ramping up efforts to investigate...
Scrooged again: MA plans can’t escape criticism of clandestine coverage rules
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jan 02, 2024
If you were looking for someone deserving to be cast as Ebeneezer Scrooge this holiday season, Medicare Advantage insurers may have just locked up the audition (for this year and maybe future years too).
CMS proposes appeals process for Medicare patients placed on observation stay
By
Josh Henreckson
Jan 02, 2024
Medicare patients initially admitted to hospitals as inpatients but later reclassified as outpatients under observation would finally have a process to appeal those decisions, thanks to a long-awaited...
2024 eagerly awaits you, long-term care faithful
By
James M. Berklan
Dec 21, 2023
As a new year looms, we’re reminded of a pattern that becomes pretty familiar in long-term care if you’ve already seen enough calendar pages disappear.
Symptoms improved with treatment changes in later stages of Parkinson’s
By
Kristen Fischer
Dec 20, 2023
A recent study showed that changing up therapies in the later stages of Parkinson’s disease improved motor symptoms and other subjective symptoms. As a result, doctors should consider advanced therapy...