C. diff vaccine moves closer to reality with launch of large Phase III trial
By
Tim Mullaney
May 19, 2014
A potential Clostridium difficile vaccine performed well in initial tests and now has moved into a large Phase III trial, researchers announced today. The news from developer Sanofi Pasteur raises hopes...
Nursing homes trail hospitals in quality improvement, AHRQ report shows
By
Tim Mullaney
May 19, 2014
About 60% of nursing home quality measures have been showing significant year-to-year improvement, but hospitals have been improving more quickly, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Government proposes long-term care EHR certification criteria, seeks provider comments
By
Tim Mullaney
May 16, 2014
Long-term care providers might soon be able to look for the government’s seal of approval when shopping for electronic health records systems, if newly proposed certification criteria take effect.
Kindred launches hostile takeover bid for home health company Gentiva, deal valued at $1.6 billion
By
Tim Mullaney
May 16, 2014
Kindred Healthcare has launched a hostile takeover to acquire home health company Gentiva, announcing a $533 million bid Thursday. The total deal would be valued at $1.6 billion, including assumed debt.
Hospitals object to collecting their own data as part of post-acute reform, urge revisions to draft legislation
By
Tim Mullaney
May 15, 2014
Hospitals should not be required to collect patient assessment data as part of an effort to revamp post-acute care, the leader of the American Hospital Association argued in a recent letter to top Congressional...
Chronic skin ulcers are among top comorbid conditions associated with dementia, researchers find
By
Tim Mullaney
May 14, 2014
Chronic skin ulcers and heart issues are among the comorbidities that are significantly linked with the presence of dementia, according to recently published research findings.
Federal law does not allow former nursing home resident to sue over involuntary discharge, court rules
By
Tim Mullaney
May 14, 2014
A woman involuntarily discharged from an Illinois nursing home does not have the right to file suit under the federal law regulating Medicaid providers, a federal court ruled Monday.
Nursing homes suffering from reimbursement shifts to home care, market analysis finds
By
Tim Mullaney
May 14, 2014
Reimbursement is shifting to home health, hurting the finances of skilled nursing facilities, a newly released market analysis states.
For happy residents, don’t go the extra mile
By
Tim Mullaney
May 13, 2014
I have a welcome message to share with long-term care professionals: You should relax. Don’t worry about going above and beyond for your residents and their families, because chances are, they’re...
Providers could be slapped with monetary penalties for slow response to document requests under OIG proposal
By
Tim Mullaney
May 13, 2014
Long-term care providers are facing an expanded list of infractions that could trigger civil monetary penalties, including slow response to document requests. The proposed regulation from the Department...