HIPAA breach leads to first-ever ‘neglect’ settlement for a healthcare provider
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 19, 2014
A recent, first-of-its-kind HIPAA settlement demonstrates that long-term care and other providers need to be vigilant about updating software and other basic security tasks, officials say.
Report: Long-term care providers pay the price for CMS’ poor auditor oversight
By
Tim Mullaney
Aug 14, 2014
Long-term care and other providers could be facing unfair burdens due to ineffective government oversight of Medicare auditors, according to a new report from a federal watchdog agency.
Jimmo guidance: Document whether therapy is for restoration or maintenance before providing care
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 20, 2013
In seeking Medicare reimbursement, skilled nursing facilities should not claim that therapy was to maintain a patient’s condition if documentation reflected only an improvement goal, according to...
Providers refocus on 15% drug reduction
By
Tim Mullaney
Jun 01, 2013
Skilled nursing providers fell short of reaching a 15% reduction in off-label antipsychotic use by the end of 2012, the American Health Care Association formally announced last month. However, AHCA did...
Minnesota nursing homes have lowest rate of hospitalizations, Mississippi and Louisiana the highest,...
By
Tim Mullaney
Sep 20, 2013
The rate at which nursing home residents are hospitalized bears a close relationship to how well a state provides healthcare for low-income people, according to a new report from the private research foundation...
C. diff vaccine moves closer to reality with launch of large Phase III trial
By
Tim Mullaney
May 19, 2014
A potential Clostridium difficile vaccine performed well in initial tests and now has moved into a large Phase III trial, researchers announced today. The news from developer Sanofi Pasteur raises hopes...
Cash-strapped feds to cut back Medicare oversight this year, OIG official says
By
Tim Mullaney
May 05, 2014
One of nursing homes’ most vigilant government watchdogs plans to dramatically curb its activities this year, a federal official has told the House Ways & Means Subcommittee on Health. The Department...
Acute, post-acute partnerships reduce C. diff about 50% in Washington state
By
Tim Mullaney
Mar 25, 2014
Hospitals and post-acute facilities in Washington state have cut their rate of Clostridium difficile infections in half since 2012 by partnering with each other in a robust infection control program, according...
Expanded surveys will focus on staffing, MDS coding
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 04, 2014
Special surveys to determine Minimum Data Set coding accuracy and nursing home staffing levels will occur nationwide in 2015, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced in an Oct. 31 memorandum....
First-ever CDC report: Nursing homes provide most long-term care nationwide, alternative settings gain...
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 13, 2013
Nursing homes still account for the vast majority of long-term care services available in the United States despite policies meant to encourage home- and community-based care, according to a new government...