7 top skilled nursing stories that resonated in 2018
By
Marty Stempniak
Dec 21, 2018
Many of the biggest announcements the past 12 months will continue to play out in 2019 and beyond.
CMS worries about integrity of accreditation orgs; wants to hear from SNFs
By
Marty Stempniak
Dec 20, 2018
The federal government is wary of possible conflicts of interest occurring in healthcare accreditation organizations, and it wants input from providers about the issue.
One flu vaccine performing better than the rest, study says
By
Marty Stempniak
Dec 20, 2018
Certain vaccine varieties are excelling over others in the senior population, tipping off providers ahead of the main flu season.
Also in the News for Thursday, Dec. 20
By
Marty Stempniak
Dec 20, 2018
Former Louisiana lawmakers exerting significant influence on state’s nursing home industry … DOJ says shell company created to file healthcare lawsuits has wasted 1,500 hours of its time … Dancing...
New ‘Conversation Nurse’ model bolsters care coordination for SNF patients
By
Marty Stempniak
Dec 19, 2018
Can we talk? A group of providers is improve care for seriously ill elderly patients with a simple solution: Speaking more with one another.
Nursing home must pay $21,000 for failing to accommodate CNA with arthritis
By
Marty Stempniak
Dec 19, 2018
An employment safety watchdog is ordering one North Carolina provider to pay up after it fired a certified nursing assistant who was unable to perform her duties because of arthritis.
Also in the News for Wednesday, Dec. 19
By
Marty Stempniak
Dec 19, 2018
CMS announces plans for new regulatory reform office … SNF operators paying nearly $250,000 to settle discrimination claims … Lawsuit contends Medicaid waitlists violate disabilities act, force elderly...
What nursing homes can learn from a ‘troubling’ court decision on sexual consent
By
Marty Stempniak
Dec 18, 2018
Navigating the nuances of nursing home resident sexual encounters has to be an extremely difficult proposition for administrators, and things just got a little thornier after a recent court ruling. The...
Feds to make it harder for hospitals to reject SNFs’ info requests
By
Marty Stempniak
Dec 18, 2018
A new federal rule, long in the works, would make it more difficult for hospitals to block requests for patient information, including from skilled nursing providers.
Feds seeking input on ways to relax HIPAA rules, ease communication with nursing homes
By
Marty Stempniak
Dec 14, 2018
The federal government wants to know whether patient-privacy rules are keeping nursing homes and other providers from better coordination with each other.