New hospice comparison tool uses government info, Washington Post calls for more transparency
By
Tim Mullaney
Oct 28, 2014
In the absence of a hospice consumer guide from the government, The Washington Post has created one using available Medicare data. The newspaper unveiled the quality tool Sunday, in an article criticizing...
Federal law does not allow former nursing home resident to sue over involuntary discharge, court rules
By
Tim Mullaney
May 14, 2014
A woman involuntarily discharged from an Illinois nursing home does not have the right to file suit under the federal law regulating Medicaid providers, a federal court ruled Monday.
Brokers stole dying nursing home residents’ identities to carry out a lucrative fraud, SEC charges
By
Tim Mullaney
Mar 14, 2014
Two investment brokers and their associates are facing charges that they stole nursing home residents’ personal information to perpetrate annuities fraud, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission...
Poor medication adherence set to trigger a tide of nursing home admissions: report
By
Tim Mullaney
Oct 16, 2013
Nearly 100 million Americans are not taking medications as prescribed, leading to unnecessary deaths, hospitalizations and nursing home admissions. This is creating an impending care crisis as the population...
Empowering nurse practitioners could reduce hospitalizations from SNFs, study finds
By
Tim Mullaney
Aug 29, 2014
Granting more authority to nurse practitioners is associated with reduced hospitalization of skilled nursing facility residents, according to recently published findings.
High staff turnover would lead to re-vote on union membership under proposed labor reform law
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 18, 2013
Nursing home workers would have to recertify their union representation after any major changes in staffing, if a newly proposed bill becomes law.
Four tips for relieving stress in long-term care
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 08, 2014
Stress is hurting the job performance of a huge number of people in this country — and long-term care workers are among those at greatest risk. At least, this was suggested by poll results released Monday....
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...
New website offers training videos on oral care for nursing home residents with dementia
By
Tim Mullaney
Oct 09, 2013
Long-term care workers can now refer to oral care resources on a new website launched by the nonprofit organization Oral Health America. Tools include video training programs on providing daily oral care...