Hospice is growing fastest in skilled nursing facilities, new report shows
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 05, 2014
Hospice services increased in nursing homes more than in any other care setting last year, according to the latest annual report from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.
ACA put the brakes on spending across the care continuum, White House economists say
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 21, 2013
Spending on healthcare, including skilled nursing care, has grown at a historically slow rate in the last three years, according to a new analysis from the Council of Economic Advisers. The group, which...
Ask the nursing expert
By
Anne Marie Barnett
Sep 01, 2007
I am having a hard time getting my licensed staff to be open to the idea of updating their skills. Any ideas?
OIG: Payment problems remain for Medicare Part D drugs in nursing homes
Jun 10, 2008
Two reports from the Office of Inspector General found problems with respect to the Medicare Part D program and nursing homes. One pertained to continuing payment obstacles while the other said that nursing...
Blood-pressure drugs good for brain, study finds
Jul 30, 2008
The use of blood-pressure drugs is linked to a lower incidence of Alzheimer’s disease and a reduced likelihood of entering a nursing home, Boston University School of Medicine researchers found.
Skilled nursing edges toward 90% occupancy, absorption rate makes first gain in nearly a decade, NIC...
By
Tim Mullaney
Apr 14, 2014
Skilled nursing facilities’ occupancy rate continued to tick up in the first three months of 2014, while absorption flipped into positive territory for the first time in almost a decade, according...
CMS releases draft of MDS 3.0
Oct 27, 2008
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released a draft version of MDS 3.0 last week. CMS disclosed details about it at a Long-Term Care Open Door Forum.
Hospital admission rates show need for new nursing home quality measure , OIG and CMS say
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 20, 2013
One in four nursing home residents on Medicare was hospitalized in 2011, costing the program $14.3 billion, according to a new report from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector...
RACs recovered $8,000 from skilled nursing facilities, $2.3 billion overall in 2012, report shows
By
Tim Mullaney
Mar 27, 2014
Medicare recovery audit contractors collected about $8,000 in fiscal year 2012 through a skilled nursing facility claims review pilot, according to a recently released annual report to Congress.
Deposed union leaders stage California healthcare coup
Feb 04, 2009
The recently ousted leaders of United Healthcare Workers West, an Oakland, CA-based Service Employees International Union local, have filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to allow workers...