Lethal bacteria affecting long-term care facilities could spell ‘end of antibiotics,’ CDC...
By
McKnight's Staff
Mar 06, 2013
A lethal type of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is on the rise in acute and long-term care facilities, and providers must act to prevent the spread of these germs that kill about half of all people who...
With Medicare cuts coming, GOP prepares another push for vouchers
By
McKnight's Staff
Mar 05, 2013
House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) is working on a proposed budget that would revamp the Medicare program. Republicans believe the option of turning Medicare into a voucher program may win...
Bundled payment groups should replace fee-for-service, physician pay commission says
By
McKnight's Staff
Mar 05, 2013
The current fee-for-service healthcare model should be replaced with bundled payment systems that encourage more coordinated care, the National Commission on Physician Payment Reform said in a report released...
The mythical standard
By
McKnight's Staff
Mar 01, 2013
The Jimmo vs. Sebelius case, filed in January 2011 in federal district court in Vermont, has now been settled. The class action lawsuit challenged Medicare’s use of an “improvement standard”...
Gold-medal intern wins fans
By
McKnight's Staff
Mar 01, 2013
Fairhaven Manor’s Amy Kotterman wasn’t sure her incoming graduate student intern was the Katie Smith until receiving an unusual voicemail. Smith called to say she would miss a day of her upcoming...
Coordinating acute, long-term care for mentally ill promises Medicare cost savings and better outcomes,...
By
McKnight's Staff
Mar 04, 2013
Better coordination of acute, post-acute and long-term care for seniors with severe mental illness (SMI) could result in significant Medicare savings and better health outcomes, according to Avalere Health...
Data sharing a major benefit of bundled payment groups, Medicare administrator says
By
McKnight's Staff
Mar 04, 2013
Increased coordination among acute and post-acute providers has reduced rehospitalization rates, signaling that healthcare reform is working, a senior Medicare official told the Senate Finance Committee...
Hospitals are releasing too soon, but nursing homes can seize opportunities to reduce readmissions, INTERACT...
By
McKnight's Staff
Mar 01, 2013
Nursing homes need to build relationships with their local hospitals to reduce unnecessary readmissions, cut costs and provide better care, a geriatric expert said Thursday.
New U.S. News ratings show nursing homes a ‘Maine’ attraction
By
McKnight's Staff
Feb 27, 2013
Among states with high percentages of seniors, Maine did the best, with 30% of its homes earning a five-star rating.
CMS leverages technology in move from ‘pay-and-chase’ to fraud prevention
By
McKnight's Staff
Feb 26, 2013
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will utilize computer technology to shift from detecting and then prosecuting fraud (“pay-and-chase”) to preventing it, according to a CMS official...