Operators treating Medicare Advantage enrollees for depression, dementia and frailty are unfairly penalized:...
By
Danielle Brown
Feb 11, 2020
Operators who serve a disproportionate share of beneficiaries with these conditions are penalized twice, argue researchers.
CMS updates coding instructions for hospice site of service, principal diagnosis
By
Tim Mullaney
Sep 02, 2014
A new Medicare hospice manual update includes instructions for which principal diagnosis codes are acceptable, and clarifies which codes should be used for services in a skilled versus non-skilled nursing...
Dementia risk rises with younger age of type 2 diabetes onset: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 30, 2021
The odds of dementia in later life are greater the younger an adult is when diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, investigators say. But prediabetes and late-life diabetes diagnoses are not linked to subsequent...
Brain changes occur before amyloid plaques develop in those with Alzheimer’s, study finds
Dec 22, 2010
People who are considered at risk for developing Alzheimer’s have abnormal brain function even before they develop amyloid plaques, a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience found.
Mirtazapine does not reduce agitation in dementia patients
Nov 03, 2021
In randomized, double-blind trial, no difference seen in scores for agitated behaviors at 12 weeks with mirtazapine versus placebo
Dementia signs, symptoms may be different for Latinos, researchers say
By
Alicia Lasek
May 27, 2021
Cultural practices and disease processes may explain why Latino adults with dementia experience faster functional decline and higher rates of depression and anxiety, investigators say.
CMS budget defines nursing home quality targets, requests an additional $50 million for surveys
By
Tim Mullaney
Mar 12, 2014
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ proposed budget for fiscal year 2015 requests additional funds for survey activities and lists the agency’s targets for nursing home quality measures.
Bill would create ‘advanced aide’ positions in nursing homes to improve transitions, dementia...
By
Tim Mullaney
Apr 14, 2014
Advanced certified nursing assistants — with specialized skills in care transitions, dementia and other areas — could become important staff leaders in long-term care facilities through newly proposed...
Blood-pressure drugs good for brain, study finds
Jul 30, 2008
The use of blood-pressure drugs is linked to a lower incidence of Alzheimer’s disease and a reduced likelihood of entering a nursing home, Boston University School of Medicine researchers found.
Details on special lights to improve dementia care: A fish tale
By
Tim Mullaney
Jun 17, 2014
In the last week, quite a few McKnight’s readers have asked me for more details about special lights that improve dementia symptoms, prompting me to dig deeper into this story. I’ve learned...