Budget office: Federal agency heads must submit reduced spending plans
Aug 22, 2011
White House budget chief Jacob Lew has asked all federal agency heads to submit spending plans for the approaching budget that are 5% below this year’s spending, according to Lew’s fiscal year...
Congressional study sought after study reveals unexpected error rates in e-prescribing
Aug 16, 2011
Reports of drug dosage mistakes, drug interactions and other electronic prescription errors have prompted members of Congress to request additional studies into health information technology systems.
Court’s verdict on spider bite likely to bug many operators
By
Elizabeth Newman
Aug 02, 2011
The death of a nursing home resident from a spider bite is a healthcare liability claim and requires an expert report to be filed as such, the Supreme Court of Texas ruled in July.
State News: Ohio: Medicaid funding plan favors home care
Aug 02, 2011
OHIO — Instead of cutting its way out of an $8 billion budget shortfall, the state will instead shift more funding dollars away from nursing homes toward less costly home-based long-term care in a move...
Drug firms seek off-label help from FDA
By
Matthew Arnold
Aug 02, 2011
Seven large drug firms filed a citizen petition with the Food and Drug Administration that seeks guidance on communication about off-label uses.
MDS 3.0 Challenges
By
Teri Weiman, SSD-AD
Jul 29, 2011
Our Minimum Data Set coordinator gave me warning that the social services section was going to be increased “exponentially” with MDS 3.0. I prepared well, but am I the only one who still cringes...
CMS proposes depression screening for seniors
Jul 22, 2011
A new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services proposal would screen more Medicare beneficiaries for depression, according to a recent memo.
Economic impact of family caregivers is substantial, report suggests
Jul 19, 2011
Well over 40 million Americans provided care for an adult family member in 2009, representing an unpaid economic impact of approximately $450 billion, according to a new report from the AARP Public Policy...
The Real Nurse Jackie: Keeping it real
By
Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC
Jul 01, 2011
Like the fictional Showtime “Nurse Jackie,” I do have a bad back, ironically have two brunette daughters, and will get in anyone’s face — doctor, family member, surveyor, government...
Court upholds big damages award to Ventas in HCP case
By
Elizabeth Newman
Jul 01, 2011
Ventas has once again won a legal victory, with a federal appeals court upholding a $101.6 million damages award in its favor against HCP Inc.