The Supreme Court may be two months away from announcing whether President Barack Obama’s health care law is legal. But court watchers are already speculating on what will happen if the measure is...
The real key to keeping employees well
By
John O'Connor
May 20, 2013
Many long-term care operators have begun to put wellness programs in place. And by most accounts, they seem to be working out well so far. But do wellness programs really work? The short answer appears...
Are we entering skilled care’s Golden Age? The answer might surprise you.
By
John O'Connor
Mar 05, 2018
It’s very possible historians may look back at 2018 as a kind of Golden Age for skilled care. No, I have not been drinking.
Strange ways to deal with long-term care’s staffing challenge
By
John O'Connor
Nov 15, 2013
It’s no secret that our nation’s long-term care facilities need additional caregivers. More than 43,000 direct care staff positions remain unfilled, according to figures from the American Health...
Stiffing the help just doesn’t add up
By
John O'Connor
Dec 05, 2013
Depending on the numbers you choose to believe, senior living profit margins are a razor thin 3% — or more like 20%. Regardless, many would like to believe operators are engaging in a fairly despicable...
Why are more RAC audits happening? There are trillions of reasons
By
John O'Connor
Sep 10, 2012
Recovery audit contractors are stepping up their efforts to review Medicare billings. This appears to be a classic case of auditors gone wild.
Immigration reform won’t solve long-term care’s fundamental staffing challenge
By
John O'Connor
Apr 05, 2013
Long-term care operators are understandably giddy about the sudden prospect of immigration reform. But they might want to curb their enthusiasm.
Providers likely to gain from immigration policy changes
By
John O'Connor
Nov 14, 2014
President Obama will be unveiling a multi-pronged plan to overhaul the nation’s immigration policy, possibly later today. Its most controversial component — a reprieve for the millions who face...
The House just bet on tort reform. When will they ever learn?
By
John O'Connor
Jul 05, 2017
The long-term care field quickly embraced last week’s House vote to enact some long-overdue tort reform. That’s not so surprising, but don’t get too carried away just yet, is my advice.
Our new health secretary is making big plans, at your expense
By
John O'Connor
Feb 13, 2017
On Friday, Dr. Tom Price was sworn in as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Long-term care operators should cast a wary eye toward the new HHS boss for two reasons: Medicaid and...