The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services brought out its equivalent of a brass band and confetti machine Tuesday to tout a new provider payment strategy. One could almost hear strains of “Happy...
Three things you need to know about COVID-19
By
John O'Connor
Mar 22, 2020
We look to be heading into even more challenging times ahead. But we must look beyond them.
Not angry about the LTC Commission’s report? You should be
By
John O'Connor
Sep 20, 2013
It’s hard to comment on the Commission on Long-Term Care’s just-submitted report without getting hacked off. Really, really hacked off. To call it a fool’s errand would be to insult misdirected...
Medical necessity — slippery for some
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Dec 02, 2011
Medical necessity has become a common phrase in healthcare terminology, but what exactly does it mean? Unfortunately, this term has become very subjective and is the primary reason we have been denied...
Exploring and implementing the 3 Cs of skin and wound care
By
Tara Roberts
Mar 19, 2014
All clinicians can fall into one or more categories labeled preventer, predictor and promoter, but I suggest each has a primary role in skin and wound care and wound healing.
The long-term view on long-term care: Only if you want to know
By
Irving Stackpole
Jan 10, 2022
No one with any depth of relevant experience would call long-term care in the United States a success. You might ask, “How would you define success?” A rational response would include both qualitative...
Filling the continuum of care gap in the COVID-19 era
By
Mark Fritz
Oct 20, 2020
Since the pandemic began, one thing has become abundantly apparent: There is a gap in the continuum of care for our nation’s most vulnerable patients. All too often, medically complex patients...
Top therapy reimbursement for everyone: here’s how
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Jul 18, 2011
If the Ultra High is the highest level of allowable treatment we may seek, it’s our professional obligation to clinically provide these levels of service to every patient.
What will it cost you to stay in the post-acute care game?
By
Steven Littlehale
Apr 22, 2015
More than just collecting data, providers need to use standardized, nationally recognized measures. Especially in this era of ACOs and alternative payment models. In the past, many individual providers...
CMS let the cat out of the bag, but it’s managed care that’s ready to pounce
By
Kimberly Marselas
May 05, 2021
If you work with managed care (and who doesn’t anymore), chances are pretty good you’re already on a collision course that’s been accelerated lately