Feds’ ‘dramatic expansion’ of telehealth widens payment coverage; HIPAA rules are relaxed for COVID-19
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 18, 2020
The federal government removed Medicare restrictions for telehealth coverage nationwide Tuesday while also temporarily relaxing HIPAA obligations for providers. The latter opens the door for doctors’...
Therapy carnage at start of PDPM not as severe as feared: study
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 02, 2021
The first academic study of its kind has found that the first three months of nursing homes’ overhauled Medicare payment system at the end of 2019 led to a distinct drop-off in the employed number of...
Lynn Hood to receive 2024 McKnight’s Women of Distinction Lifetime Achievement Award
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 12, 2024
Lynn Hood, a long-term care executive well-known for answering the call to act under emergency conditions and being a champion of employees, has been chosen as this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award...
BREAKING: Federal regulators tout $15M in fines, tripling of ‘Immediate Jeopardy’ citations against...
By
James M. Berklan
Aug 14, 2020
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced Friday afternoon that it has levied more than $15 million in fines and tripled the most severe type of citations to nursing homes during the six months...
Nursing home leaders unraveling after months of pandemic dangers, workloads, McKnight’s survey shows
By
James M. Berklan
Sep 07, 2021
Findings of the 2021 McKnight’s Mood of the Market survey shed unsettling light on fragile workplaces and severely tested workforces.
‘You can fight it and win,’ attorney assures providers after unanimous victory in brutal venue and...
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 26, 2024
Long-term care operators need to help themselves and their sector by battling plaintiff lawsuits more aggressively, stresses a provider attorney who just recorded a unanimous victory in what he calls an...
Former Speaker Ryan says CMS staffing mandate can be overruled, tabs senior care workforce solutions
By
James M. Berklan
Oct 25, 2023
NIC keynote speaker and former US House Speaker Paul Ryan optimistically emphasized immigration reform and technology as the two best tools to help senior care operators overcome dire staffing shortages.
REIT leader: ‘Even more bullish than before’ on skilled nursing
By
James M. Berklan
Sep 29, 2020
Census pressure and uncertainties caused by COVID-19 continue to threaten the nursing home industry. But at least one major real estate investment trust CEO sees this period as a time of good opportunity...
BREAKING (Updated): High Court grills attorneys over worker COVID vaccination mandates (live)
By
Kimberly Marselas
James M. Berklan
Jan 07, 2022
The Supreme Court should issue a stay and allow a federal vaccine mandate for healthcare workers to go into effect immediately because “any delay in implementing that requirement would cause preventable...
Emergencies help needed: More ‘strike’ teams, policy improvements vital for nursing homes, report...
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 25, 2022
Despite diligent efforts by nursing homes during COVID-19 outbreaks, operators need help from policy makers to ensure better levels of care during future infection control emergencies, researchers say.