First-ever CDC report: Nursing homes provide most long-term care nationwide, alternative settings gain...
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 13, 2013
Nursing homes still account for the vast majority of long-term care services available in the United States despite policies meant to encourage home- and community-based care, according to a new government...
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.
MedPAC renews call for long-term care payment cuts, draws fire from providers
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 13, 2013
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission has recommended a 4% reduction in skilled nursing facility payments in 2016, prompting an outcry from providers.
MedPAC shows enthusiasm for equalizing SNF, inpatient rehab facility payments
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 12, 2013
More uniform reimbursements for skilled nursing facilities and inpatient rehabilitation facilities could be implemented soon, policy analysts recently told the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission. The...
Average CCRC director salary reaches $148,000, survey finds
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 19, 2013
Continuing care retirement community executive directors are earning an average annual salary of $148,007 this year, which is close to a 6% increase from 2012, according to a new report. CCRC chief financial...
Nursing home residents are allowed to designate organizations as authorized representatives for Medicaid...
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 16, 2013
In the final rule, CMS confirmed that organizations may serve as representatives, specifically citing the needs of nursing home residents who do not have family available for assistance. The rule also...
Residents often change position on CPR, showing need for Minimum Data Set changes, researchers say
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 29, 2013
Many nursing home residents change their mind after admission about whether they want to be revived through cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but Minimum Data Set changes threaten to decrease residents’...
Omnicare reaches $124 million settlement in nursing home kickbacks case
By
Tim Mullaney
Jun 26, 2014
The nation’s largest long-term care pharmacy has agreed to a $124 million settlement over claims of kickbacks to nursing homes in the form of price breaks on certain drugs, the U.S. Department of...
Standardized tool for assessing post-acute care is floated in House and Senate
By
Tim Mullaney
Mar 20, 2014
Lawmakers in both houses of Congress have unveiled a draft bill calling for post-acute care providers to furnish standard assessment data, with the goals of enabling better quality oversight and driving...
Draft bill proposes counting observation stays for SNF coverage, limiting RAC oversight
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 24, 2014
Hospital observation stays would count toward establishing Medicare eligibility for post-acute services, under comprehensive reforms in a new draft bill from the House Committee on Ways and Means. The...