Extendicare mulls sell-off of U.S. operations amid decline
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 01, 2013
Extendicare, a major North American long-term care operator, may sell off its 158 U.S. facilities before the end of the year. The company’s move to separate its Canadian and U.S. businesses could...
CMS clarifies long-term care quality review in managed care models
By
Tim Mullaney
Oct 23, 2013
Noting that long-term care increasingly is being provided through Medicaid managed care plans, the government has released guidance on how to monitor the quality of care in these systems.
Little Sisters are behind the curve in a changing church
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 14, 2014
Challenging the Affordable Care Act’s “contraception mandate” in court is a matter of conscience, according to The Little Sisters of the Poor. It’s hard to fault people for following...
Four tips for relieving stress in long-term care
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 08, 2014
Stress is hurting the job performance of a huge number of people in this country — and long-term care workers are among those at greatest risk. At least, this was suggested by poll results released Monday....
HHS gives active shooter guidance for healthcare facilities, says there is ‘no perfect response’
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 10, 2014
Federal agencies recently issued guidance for how long-term care facilities and other healthcare providers should prepare for an active shooter emergency. The 33-page document covers threat assessment,...
HIPAA breach leads to first-ever ‘neglect’ settlement for a healthcare provider
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 19, 2014
A recent, first-of-its-kind HIPAA settlement demonstrates that long-term care and other providers need to be vigilant about updating software and other basic security tasks, officials say.
Report: Long-term care providers pay the price for CMS’ poor auditor oversight
By
Tim Mullaney
Aug 14, 2014
Long-term care and other providers could be facing unfair burdens due to ineffective government oversight of Medicare auditors, according to a new report from a federal watchdog agency.
Providers refocus on 15% drug reduction
By
Tim Mullaney
Jun 01, 2013
Skilled nursing providers fell short of reaching a 15% reduction in off-label antipsychotic use by the end of 2012, the American Health Care Association formally announced last month. However, AHCA did...
Jimmo guidance: Document whether therapy is for restoration or maintenance before providing care
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 20, 2013
In seeking Medicare reimbursement, skilled nursing facilities should not claim that therapy was to maintain a patient’s condition if documentation reflected only an improvement goal, according to...
The ACA’s ‘comprehensive’ long-term care failure
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 19, 2013
There’s been a lot of talk lately about what constitutes “comprehensive” health insurance coverage — and long-term care notably has not been part of this national conversation.