Antipsychotic use tied to acute kidney injury, increasing pressure on nursing home reduction efforts
By
Tim Mullaney
Aug 20, 2014
Older people who take antipsychotic medications are at a markedly increased risk of acute kidney injury, according to newly published research findings out of Canada. The study further supports ongoing...
40 states plan to increase nursing home Medicaid rates
By
Tim Mullaney
Oct 16, 2014
Reversing a trend of rate cutting during the Great Recession, most states are increasing Medicaid reimbursements for nursing homes, according to a recently released report. However, states also are accelerating...
Nursing home antipsychotic use has dipped nearly 19% under national effort, latest figures show
By
Tim Mullaney
Oct 31, 2014
The percent of long-stay nursing home residents receiving antipsychotic medication has decreased 18.8% under a nationwide initiative that started in 2012.
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...
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...
Dual eligibles more likely to go from hospitals to lower quality nursing homes, referral process might...
By
Tim Mullaney
May 27, 2014
People eligible both for Medicare and Medicaid go to lower-quality nursing homes after being hospitalized at a rate higher than Medicare-only patients, according to researchers from Brown and Harvard universities.
Bill would increase dental services in nursing homes
By
Tim Mullaney
Sep 20, 2013
A bill introduced in both houses of Congress seeks to expand Medicare coverage for dental services and provide more oral care in long-term care facilities.
More action needed on adverse events in nursing homes, outpatient settings, expert tells Senators
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 18, 2014
Nursing homes and other non-hospital providers largely have been overlooked in efforts to improve patient safety, and this needs to change, an expert told a Senate panel Thursday. Today, “little...
Government proposes long-term care EHR certification criteria, seeks provider comments
By
Tim Mullaney
May 16, 2014
Long-term care providers might soon be able to look for the government’s seal of approval when shopping for electronic health records systems, if newly proposed certification criteria take effect.
Nursing homes should think twice before using a well-known tool for diagnosing depression, researchers...
By
Tim Mullaney
Sep 15, 2014
A familiar tool for diagnosing depression in dementia patients might not be very effective in the nursing home setting, according to findings recently published in The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.