Long-term care providers can share resident info for safety reasons without breaching HIPAA
By
McKnight's Staff
Jan 22, 2013
Healthcare providers do not violate the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act privacy regulations if they share patient information in the interest of public safety, according to a letter...
CDC: Flu hitting elderly especially hard, but only half of nursing home workers vaccinated
By
McKnight's Staff
Jan 22, 2013
The 2012-13 flu season has been especially bad for the elderly, officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday in a call with reporters. Despite this, CDC figures show about half...
Omnibus HIPAA rule lays out ‘sweeping changes’
By
McKnight's Staff
Jan 18, 2013
The Department of Health and Human Services issued an “omnibus” rule Thursday, comprehensively updating Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act privacy and security regulations...
Governors divided on Medicaid expansion, creating uncertain fiscal forecast for long-term care operators
By
McKnight's Staff
Jan 18, 2013
There are likely to be notable gaps in Medicaid coverage through the nation when major parts of the Affordable Care Act go into effect on the first day of 2014, according to a New England Journal of Medicine...
AARP, business group offer competing views of Medicare reform
By
McKnight's Staff
Jan 18, 2013
The eligibility age for Medicare should be raised from 65 to 70 years, and the program should include private plans competing with the current fee-for-service model, the Business Roundtable proposed Wednesday.
Alzheimer’s breakthrough: Vaccine may be on its way, researchers say
By
McKnight's Staff
Jan 16, 2013
Researchers say they’ve made a major breakthrough in the effort to develop an Alzheimer’s disease vaccine.
Nursing homes on front line as White House weighs ‘bed tax’ reform
By
McKnight's Staff
Jan 16, 2013
Nursing homes could be hurt if the federal government lowers or eliminates the Medicaid provider tax threshold to reduce the national deficit, according to a recent report from the Congressional Research...
CMS rule shines light on Medicaid cost sharing, eligibility and appeals process as Obamacare rolls out
By
McKnight's Staff
Jan 15, 2013
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has proposed a rule to clarify ways in which Medicaid will be coordinated under the Affordable Care Act rollout.
More than 100 new ACOs created, highlighting importance of model for long-term care
By
McKnight's Staff
Jan 11, 2013
The creation of more than 100 new Accountable Care Organizations was announced Thursday, the latest example from the Department of Health and Human Services of promoting a coordinated care model over a...
Huge opportunity for dual eligible cost savings, report says
By
McKnight's Staff
Jan 11, 2013
Better coordination of care for individuals eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid could result in savings of nearly $190 billion by 2022, according to a recent UnitedHealth Center report.