Nursing’s already a dirty job. Regulators are slinging mud
By
Kimberly Marselas
Feb 07, 2024
LPNs may soon find themselves boxed out of quality, well-paying jobs in the very settings that have most often hired them in the past. It’s federal regulators threatening to do them dirty.
The changes to end-of-life skin wound classification in the most recent Minimum Data Set update are ultimately a positive for long-term care, but regulatory ambiguity and potential legal concerns still...
The RAC is back, increasing scrutiny in a complex nursing home audit environment
By
Kimberly Marselas
Feb 05, 2024
Audits of skilled nursing providers are likely to increase this year, with a growing number of federal and state recovery audits adding to specialized compliance reviews announced last year.
Bill to cap agency worker charges and increase oversight grows support
By
Josh Henreckson
Feb 05, 2024
A bill to increase regulation over temporary staffing agencies and legally cap what they can charge nursing homes advanced through an Iowa Legislature committee
Embracing end-of-life choices: A journey with Grandma
By
Steven Littlehale
Feb 02, 2024
At the beginning of the year, my grandmother found herself in an acute-care hospital, addressing blood clots in her legs and lungs. Having just recovered from COVID-19 at the age of 100, uncertainty loomed...
Odds of staffing rule fix grow with new bill
By
Kimberly Marselas
Feb 02, 2024
After weeks of waiting, Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) officially introduced a bill aiming to block the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services from implementing its proposed nursing home staffing mandate.
Hans and CMS: Two peas in a value-based pod
By
James M. Berklan
Feb 02, 2024
In another life, in another millennium, on another continent, your faithful scribe was an auto factory worker. This led to many unexpected insights into human nature that I still recall decades later....
Providers get their moment with top US health officials over vaccinations
By
Kimberly Marselas
Feb 01, 2024
Providers and top federal officials intent on saving more seniors’ lives met at near the White House Wednesday to plan vaccination improvements.
The doctor will see you … when? Regs, reimbursement delay SNF patient access
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jan 31, 2024
Nursing home patients who see a clinician soon after admission have a lower chance of returning to the hospital regardless of prognosis, a recent study on physician access finds.
Staffing agencies to pay $260K for alleged gouging of nursing homes, senior living operators
By
Lois A. Bowers
Jan 30, 2024
Three temporary staffing agencies accused of collectively price gouging long-term care providers in at least 10 different ways will pay more than $260,000 to resolve allegations of wrongdoing, Massachusetts...