AHCA pressures CMS, lawmakers to wait on ‘five-star’ rating system
Nov 25, 2008
The pending “five-star” nursing home rating system should be delayed because it would not accurately reflect the quality of the nation’s nursing homes, the American Health Care Association...
Brookings briefing addresses long-term care survey process, job training
Jul 15, 2008
Redesigning the regulatory survey of nursing homes would help determine how far current resources can be stretched to improve quality, according to a panelist who participated in a long-term care reform...
Frustrations of a persecuted provider boil over
By
Barry Bortz
Nov 01, 2011
What happens when a government and society create an evil enemy of the state? They begin by calling them monsters, a drain on society that is guilty of heinous crimes, and they use the legal system and...
Shame is powerful motivator
By
John O'Connor
Sep 01, 2007
About a decade ago, I wrote a controversial column that offended some readers. In it, I suggested the industry start policing itself by identifying and reprimanding the bad actors in this field, lest the...
States fail to report troubled Medicaid providers to OIG, report finds
Aug 14, 2008
States are not reporting those Medicaid providers that have been suspended or excluded from their state programs, according to a new report from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector...
Yarwood: Five-star rating system, card-check legislation loom large
Oct 07, 2008
While the nursing home industry can be proud of its accomplishments in Washington over the last year, many challenges await. These include card-check legislation in Congress and a problematic five-star...
Five-star nursing home rating system kicks off with controversy
Dec 18, 2008
The head of one provider organization reacted negatively Wednesday to the way the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has handled the launch of a new five-star rating system for nursing homes. The...
States react to OIG nursing home deficiency report
Oct 03, 2008
After the release of a recent Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General report on nursing home violations, states are coming out in defense of their records.
CMS warns: Medicare therapy caps back in full effect soon
May 23, 2008
A process that shields most nursing home residents from therapy payment caps is set to expire at the end of next month, federal regulators told providers Thursday during a special conference call. Officials...
Regulators: Provider gift cards to nursing home residents won’t draw fines
Jul 09, 2008
A healthcare system that proposes giving gift cards to residents and other customers it disappoints with poor service is on firm legal ground, federal regulators say.