Observation status overuse undercuts hospital readmission progress
By
Kimberly Marselas
Nov 30, 2022
Major strides in reducing hospital readmissions, an often-cited indicator of quality in both acute and post-acute settings, were actually overstated when taking into account the rising use of observation...
Back from the brink: Inside the battle to save nation’s second-largest nursing home
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 15, 2024
BALTIMORE — Two years after federal officials stripped the nation’s second largest nursing home of its Medicare and Medicaid certification, officials have outlined the 960-step plan it took to walk...
CMS proposal offers long-awaited fix for Medicare Advantage appeals
By
Kimberly Marselas
Nov 08, 2023
Skilled nursing providers would get a new, improved appeals process for Medicare Advantage denials under a proposal issued late Monday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Congress advisers back permanent telehealth expansions, look to nix in-person rule for behavioral telehealth...
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 12, 2024
Maintaining Medicare beneficiaries’ access to telehealth services, especially for behavioral health, must remain an initial priority over payment reform or quality measurement, members of a congressional...
Long-term care picks up 11,000 jobs but recovery resembles roller-coaster ride
By
Kimberly Marselas
Nov 07, 2022
Nursing homes and residential care facilities gained another 11,000 jobs in October, a quick rebound after a fresh slump in September.
This nursing home aims to reduce agency dependence by adding housing for local staff
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jessica R. Towhey
Mar 09, 2023
A proposed nursing home in a New England resort town will feature a fairly uncommon way to attract staff: 48 units of subsidized housing on a campus shared with dozens of local elders.
Providers prepare for new vaccine threats as mandate officially sunsets
By
Kimberly Marselas
Aug 03, 2023
The end of the nationwide COVID-19 vaccine healthcare worker mandate arrives Saturday, and with it new costly concerns as well.
As behavioral health demands grow, new federal center offers free SNF training
By
Kimberly Marselas
May 10, 2023
As federal regulators heighten pressure on skilled nursing facilities to accept and treat patients with mental health needs and substance abuse disorders, a new center is ramping up to equip providers...
SNFists increase nursing home referrals, but don’t lower rehospitalizations: study
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jun 15, 2023
The “rapid” adoption of SNFists, or clinicians specializing in skilled nursing care, has increased Medicare referrals for facilities that use them. But it has not led to reduced rehospitalizations,...
Impressed by newly acquired facilities, Avamere brings therapy back in house
By
Kimberly Marselas
Oct 10, 2023
Nine months after acquiring four facilities with in-house therapy departments, Avamere has decided to bring all of its therapy back in house.