Adjusting the debate, but probably not the outcome
By
John O'Connor
Oct 15, 2022
For decades, providers and consumer advocates have been going at it hammer and tongs. At stake in this epic PR battle is nothing less than which perception of long-term care is best believed.
The Big Picture | In defense of nursing home funding
By
John O'Connor
Jul 01, 2022
I once wondered why so many people who can’t pay their bills somehow manage to afford tattoos, lottery tickets, cigarettes and other seemingly dubious expenditures.
In defense of nursing home funding
By
John O'Connor
May 30, 2022
We spend money on things that deliver some kind of reward. That insight into the human condition also helps explain why our long-term care system finds itself in such a precarious position these days.
The Big Picture | Hold nursing homes accountable. Cheapskates, too
By
John O'Connor
Apr 01, 2022
This spring’s nursing home fun actually started Feb. 28, when the administration said it was going to push for the most sweeping industry reforms since OBRA ’87.
Long-term care reform on a grand scale
By
John O'Connor
Apr 10, 2022
Every now and then a study sizing up the state of long-term care comes along. The one dropped last week is very different from others.
A Biden damaging proposal that’s barely getting noticed
By
John O'Connor
Mar 13, 2022
President Biden sure gave nursing homes the stink eye during his State of the Union address. Care quality is down while charges are up, he alleged. He added that Medicare rules need to be tightened
Nursing homes should be held accountable. So should cheapskates.
By
John O'Connor
Mar 07, 2022
By any reasonable standard, nursing homes just endured a pretty rough week.
Want to make long-term care better? Think bigger.
By
John O'Connor
Feb 28, 2022
When it comes to improving long-term care, two threadbare options always seem to be first in line. Throw more money at the problem, one camp insists. Hold providers more accountable, claims the other....
The real trick-or-treating is about to begin
By
John O'Connor
Nov 01, 2021
Halloween is the one event each year where getting scared silly can be part of the fun. But you could hardly blame providers who’d prefer to skip that opportunity.
Long-term care’s resistance movement
By
John O'Connor
Aug 09, 2021
The federal government is urging providers to get staff vaccinated against COVID-19. The major trade groups in this field are doing the same.