Providers to report COVID infections in 12 hours or face $1k fines, CMS says
By
James M. Berklan
Apr 21, 2020
Nursing homes will face fines of “at least” $1,000 per week for not reporting COVID-19 infections within 12 hours of learning about them, federal regulators said Monday.
Gut shot: Therapy providers called on the carpet over productivity goals
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 14, 2019
New study results question the use of productivity goals. The implications are not good for skilled nursing operators.
CCRC report: Salaries soaring, nurses still hottest but raises moderating
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 11, 2023
Nursing titles enjoyed the highest average annual pay increases — all above 4.1% — among highlighted job classes in the overall 26th annual CCRC Salary & Benefits Report, which was released by the...
Supreme Court leaves providers to grapple with vaccine mandate, takes other employers off the hook
By
Kimberly Marselas
James M. Berklan
Jan 13, 2022
Nursing home operators were already bracing late Thursday for the fallout of a nationwide staff vaccine mandate, just hours after the Supreme Court ruled a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services rule...
Finance Feature — Old quandary
By
James M. Berklan
Oct 16, 2006
More and more, aging facilities are begging the question:
Is it time to remodel, refurbish or just start over?
[UPDATED] CMS issues first-ever nursing home staffing mandate
By
James M. Berklan
Kimberly Marselas
Sep 01, 2023
US nursing homes would have at least three years to provide a minimum of 0.55 hours of care by a registered nurse and 2.45 hours by a nurse aide per resident day under a first-ever proposed federal staffing...
The odds of healthcare reform surviving are …
By
James M. Berklan
Jun 20, 2012
I wonder what the bookies in London are thinking about the odds of the U.S. healthcare reform law surviving. Surely they have taken bets on its possible demise, just as they do seemingly everything else...
Emergencies help needed: More ‘strike’ teams, policy improvements vital for nursing homes, report...
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 25, 2022
Despite diligent efforts by nursing homes during COVID-19 outbreaks, operators need help from policy makers to ensure better levels of care during future infection control emergencies, researchers say.
Out of the bad we shall find good
By
James M. Berklan
Aug 31, 2017
“Out of the bad we shall find good.” That sounds kind of biblical, doesn’t it? But I didn’t hear it while sitting in a pew on a Sunday. It came from a resolute skilled nursing manager...
Surveyor testing mulled
By
James M. Berklan
Nov 01, 2020
Mandated COVID-19 testing for nursing home surveyors and ombudsmen was “under active consideration” by federal health officials, a top figure told providers in early October.