Even unusually snowy, bitter days, or torrential rains, or choking drought conditions will end eventually. That is how I feel about current economic conditions.
Editor’s Desk: It’s been a big year (even without healthcare system reform)
By
James M. Berklan
Dec 01, 2009
You better believe healthcare reform would be important to the long-term care community, no matter how many or few times the phrase “long-term care” might actually appear in any Congressional...
Making a quality bet on ACOs a risky proposition
By
James M. Berklan
Nov 01, 2014
If there’s anything that’s become clear about this ACO business lately, it’s that it’s not going to be as simple as A-B-C.
Pragmatism: Surveyors put away their big sticks
By
James M. Berklan
Aug 09, 2017
One of the biggest stories of the summer easily has been the news that full enforcement of nursing homes’ new survey system will be postponed a year.
Winter storm leads us to warm stories, and a plan
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 04, 2016
It would be reasonable to think that a storm that caused dozens of deaths and the shutdown of federal government offices is a terrible event. But you would be only half right: A late-January blizzard in...
Feds turn attention back to facility staffing levels
By
James M. Berklan
Sep 01, 2020
In a recent Office of Inspector General report, we learned that federal overseers are not happy about nursing home staffing levels.
Editor’s Desk: Competing interests may foil plans for true reform
By
James M. Berklan
Aug 01, 2009
I thought of the parable of the rabbit and the snake when contemplating the flurry of healthcare reform banter taking place before U.S. lawmakers’ August recess.
Nipping the improper Medicare pay in the bud
By
James M. Berklan
Nov 05, 2016
Does the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services need its own deputy sheriff to set its house in order? Some seem to think so.
A call for openness as sales of facilities churn
By
James M. Berklan
Jun 06, 2016
Nursing home chain executives might have been wincing when they saw news of yet another study apparently finding that they’re doing a poor job.
Some good news (from MedPAC !): Quality rising
By
James M. Berklan
Apr 01, 2014
A funny thing happened on the way to a semi-annual eye rolling about a MedPAC report. It contained some information that could make long-term care providers happy.