The BIG picture: Nursing homes are not long-term care’s embarrasing relatives
By
John O'Connor
Apr 01, 2009
When the Senate Special Committee on Aging decided to hold a hearing on future directions for long-term care, it seemed as though the nursing home industry was quickly walked down the stairs.
The real labor problem
By
John O'Connor
May 01, 2013
Long-term care operators are understandably giddy about the sudden prospect of immigration reform. Such a change holds the promise of a larger labor pool at a time of rampant worker shortages. Add in the...
An emerging union challenge: ‘micro’ management
By
John O'Connor
Mar 27, 2015
The National Labor Relations Board’s willingness to let smaller groups of people form “micro unions” has many operators on edge.
MedPAC wants to put SNF Medicare claims to the test
By
John O'Connor
Apr 10, 2017
Skilled operators have been telling lawmakers and regulators that they are the cheapest post-acute care option out there, and it appears the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission has not only heard the...
Study to examine Medicaid-centric nursing homes that excel
By
John O'Connor
Jan 26, 2015
Evidence-based reasons for why some nursing homes serving Medicaid-heavy populations outperform others will soon be available.
Readmission penalties could harm hospitals and SNFs
By
John O'Connor
Aug 24, 2012
Economic incentives – both good and bad – are a proven way to modify behavior. But what happens when an economic penalty is based on a dubious premise? Many hospitals may soon be forced to...
McKnight’s 40 for 40: Sheldon L. Goldberg
By
John O'Connor
Sep 08, 2020
Long-term care may be constantly changing. Still, some issues never seem to vanish. Take uneven survey and enforcement practices. A recent problem? Hardly. In fact, it was one of Sheldon Goldberg’s chief...
The truth can set you free — or put your long-term care facility out of business
By
John O'Connor
Jan 11, 2013
Journalists generally get all warm and tingly when previously guarded information becomes available. It must be in our DNA. So I should probably be cheering ProPublica’s announcement that the government...
Message from the White House: Don’t trust nursing homes
By
John O'Connor
Mar 08, 2013
Ever wonder how much regard the White House has for long-term care operators? A brief filed last week makes the answer abundantly clear: very little.
3 bold predictions for the coming year in long-term care
By
John O'Connor
Jan 02, 2018
There’s nothing like a budding new year to awaken that urge in scribes to warn better-informed readers what to expect. It must be some kind of occupational hazard. So in the spirit of not always...