States ultimately will opt into Medicaid expansion: CMS official
By
McKnight's Staff
Jul 31, 2012
All states will eventually participate in the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion once governors weigh its costs against its benefits, a top Medicaid official predicted Monday.
Hospital-based efforts to prevent readmissions for heart conditions found to be lacking, research finds
Jul 26, 2012
Comprehensive plans to prevent hospital readmissions for heart failure and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in U.S. hospitals are spotty at best, new research suggests.
Scrutiny of skilled nursing facilities intensifies with Nursing Home Compare overhaul
By
McKnight's Staff
Jul 19, 2012
The government’s Nursing Home Compare website now includes more information about surveyor inspection findings and antipsychotic medication usage, officials announced Tuesday.
HIMSS announced that it has released an ICD-10 PlayBook Financial Risk Calculator.
SNF rehab claims scrutinized more than ever, expert says
Jul 11, 2012
Nursing home administrators who can’t substantiate every minute of rehab therapy delivered in their building leave themselves open to increasingly common audits and surveys, a top MDS 3.0 expert...
Study shows sickest people most dissatisfied with care
By
Mary Gustafson
Jul 06, 2012
Nursing home residents, who often have at least one or more chronic condition, are among the sickest individuals treated by the American healthcare system. This population’s high utilization rates...
Study: Information, training can cut physical restraint use
By
Mary Gustafson
Jul 06, 2012
Interventions such as group training sessions and the provision of supportive materials for staff, residents and relatives can help nursing homes reduce dependence on physical restraints, a new study finds.
Ask the payment expert: How will our new e-charting system influence our reimbursement?
By
Patricia Boyer
Jul 05, 2012
We are getting a new electronic charting system. Is there anything we should be aware of with the change?
How to do it… Incontinence management
Jul 05, 2012
It is one of the most common conditions of the elderly in nursing homes, yet one of the easiest to handle poorly. Incontinence can be a frustrating issue for long-term care providers, costing more than...
CMS boosts payments, incentives for dialysis centers
By
McKnight's Staff
Jul 03, 2012
Medicare payments to providers that offer outpatient maintenance dialysis treatments will increase 2.5% in calendar year 2013, regulators said.