Internet connections are just getting started, experts say
By
John O'Connor
Feb 01, 2014
If last month’s International CES show had a strong message for providers, it was this: Being connected to the Internet is about to take on a whole new meaning.
Don’t overlook this new mandate in the PBJ manual
By
John O'Connor
Apr 24, 2017
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services inserted an important new requirement in the latest version of its Payroll-Based Journal manual. It’s one of those innocent-looking provisions that are...
LTC providers: Senate vote to kill ‘skinny’ healthcare bill ‘the right move’...
By
John O'Connor
Jul 28, 2017
Provider groups exhaled Friday following the death of a so-called “skinny repeal” healthcare bill that could have opened the door to Medicaid funding cuts.
Obama against caps for malpractice suits
By
John O'Connor
Jul 01, 2009
President Obama told a roomful of doctors that he does not favor caps for malpractice awards. But he indicated he may be open to “apology legislation.”
Premature obituaries about nursing homes unfair, off the mark
By
John O'Connor
Apr 11, 2014
Attend an industry event these days and you’re sure to hear doom-and-gloom forecasts for the skilled care sector. Simply put, LTC is not getting a lot of TLC.
Reducing antipsychotics one resident at a time
By
John O'Connor
Dec 02, 2013
Like many bad habits, the overuse of antipsychotics is not going down without a fight. Still, there are reasons for long-term optimism.
Our quiet revolution
By
John O'Connor
Nov 05, 2016
The CommonWell Health Alliance recently announced that members soon will be giving patients instant access to virtually all their health data.
The star treatment is here to stay
By
John O'Connor
Jul 20, 2012
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has just rolled out its latest version of Nursing Home Compare. If your facility garnered five stars, you probably love it. If you received one star, you surely...
A note from SNFs to hospitals: Stay away from Misfit Island
By
John O'Connor
Jul 25, 2016
Hospitals need to toughen up. Their impending new five-star rating system isn’t going to be the end of the world (at least, not for most of them). But if the experience of skilled nursing homes is...
A no-brainer plan for Medicare and Medicaid
By
John O'Connor
Dec 11, 2017
But for those of you who think outrageous political trickery is dead, please let me point you in the direction of Capitol Hill. For we appear to be in the midst of one of the better con jobs to come along...