Too much provider consolidation leads to higher healthcare costs, expert says
By
McKnight's Staff
Jan 30, 2013
Healthcare providers are increasing coordination to reduce the cost of care, but overly zealous consolidation can actually end up costing more, an expert panelist said at a Monday briefing.
Painkiller restrictions could hamper nursing home residents, providers
By
McKnight's Staff
Jan 29, 2013
Nursing home residents could be adversely affected if proposed painkiller regulations are put in place, according to experts who spoke at a recent federal hearing.
Sample agreement covers provisions in new HIPAA rule
By
McKnight's Staff
Jan 29, 2013
As they work to comply with the omnibus Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act rule published on Friday, long-term care providers can refer to a sample business associate agreement released...
Medicare accepting new codes for transition care
By
McKnight's Staff
Jan 28, 2013
As part of an effort to improve coordination among different care settings and reduce rehospitalizations, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is now accepting two new codes related to transitional...
Proposed IPAB repeal would benefit seniors, House lawmaker says
By
McKnight's Staff
Jan 28, 2013
A bipartisan group of legislators introduced a bill in the House of Representatives Wednesday to repeal the Medicare Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) called for by the Affordable Care Act.
Poll: Public strongly supports Medicare, opposes cuts
By
McKnight's Staff
Jan 28, 2013
Medicare spending should not be cut to reduce the national deficit, according to the majority of respondents ina recent national poll from the Harvard School of Public Health, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation...
States make Medicaid enrollment easier in preparation for healthcare reform
By
McKnight's Staff
Jan 25, 2013
Most states are making the Medicaid application process easier as they prepare for implementation of the Affordable Care Act, according to a recently released study from the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid...
Researchers urge a broad-based approach to cut Medicare rehospitalizations
By
McKnight's Staff
Jan 24, 2013
Efforts to reduce the rehospitalization rate for older patients should not strictly focus on measures tied to particular diseases or diagnoses, researchers recently proposed.
Long-term care providers, hospitals successfully partner to reduce rehospitalizations
By
McKnight's Staff
Jan 24, 2013
Long-term care facilities that coordinate with other healthcare providers play a vital role in reducing rehospitalizations among Medicare beneficiaries, according to a study published January 23 in The...
Aspirin may be tied to age-related macular degeneration, researchers find
By
McKnight's Staff
Jan 23, 2013
Those who take aspirin regularly may be in danger of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), researchers in Australia have found.