AHCA chief Parkinson: This is our ‘toughest time,’ offers tips to turn the tide
By
Marty Stempniak
Oct 09, 2018
SAN DIEGO — The head of the largest long-term and senior care trade group didn’t sugarcoat the current state of affairs Monday. In his 25 years in the field, this might be the most challenging climate...
Feds seeking input on ways to relax HIPAA rules, ease communication with nursing homes
By
Marty Stempniak
Dec 14, 2018
The federal government wants to know whether patient-privacy rules are keeping nursing homes and other providers from better coordination with each other.
Identical names led nursing home to misinform family of resident’s death
By
Marty Stempniak
Sep 07, 2018
An identity mix-up at a Texas skilled nursing facility led to a nurse telling the wrong family that their loved one had died, according to local reports.
Judge: Health department was correct in yanking away nursing home’s Medicaid dollars after years of...
By
Marty Stempniak
Feb 13, 2019
A New Jersey nursing facility that was overpaid for a decade isn’t entitled to that rate of payment, an appeals court ruled last week.
Skilled nursing behind much of Next Generation ACOs’ $62M first-year savings
By
Marty Stempniak
Aug 29, 2018
Groups of healthcare providers, working to better coordinate care and spending with one another, cut Medicare spending by $62 million in the first year, with much of that coming reduced use of skilled...
Nursing facilities increasingly provide hospice care, report finds
By
Marty Stempniak
Apr 05, 2019
More nursing homes are providing hospice care, but such services remain largely underused, a new LeadingAge report finds.
CMS changes PDPM website, says new RAI manual to be delivered early
By
Marty Stempniak
Feb 15, 2019
After receiving a barrage of feedback, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is updating its new website for the Patient-Driven Payment Model, and touting a quick release for a much-anticipated...
SNFs lose $1 billion in reimbursement due to ‘corrective’ actions
By
Marty Stempniak
Nov 19, 2018
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services trimmed reimbursements to skilled nursing facilities by about $1 billion last year, due to what the agency described as actions that would “reduce payment...
Most common cancer surgery for SNF residents often worsens lives: Researcher
By
Marty Stempniak
Aug 30, 2018
Operating on frail, elderly nursing home residents who are suffering from breast cancer may not be the best course of action, according to a new study.
New ‘Conversation Nurse’ model bolsters care coordination for SNF patients
By
Marty Stempniak
Dec 19, 2018
Can we talk? A group of providers is improve care for seriously ill elderly patients with a simple solution: Speaking more with one another.