States can designate more nursing homes in urgent need of quality improvement, government says
By
Tim Mullaney
Apr 22, 2014
The federal government is reactivating the special focus facility program for nursing homes with quality issues, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced. The program was minimized due...
CMS budget defines nursing home quality targets, requests an additional $50 million for surveys
By
Tim Mullaney
Mar 12, 2014
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ proposed budget for fiscal year 2015 requests additional funds for survey activities and lists the agency’s targets for nursing home quality measures.
State News
Mar 01, 2014
HAWAII — One of the most expensive states in the country for long-term care is staring down the barrel of dwindling budgets and a rapidly growing elderly population. Officials are taking proactive measures...
Catholic long-term care provider claims free speech violations in its full appeal against Affordable...
By
Tim Mullaney
Feb 26, 2014
A Catholic long-term care provider is claiming freedom of speech and religious freedom violations in a much-anticipated legal appeal over the Affordable Care Act’s contraception mandate.
Court expresses concern over Omnicare drug packaging practices but dismisses False Claims suit
By
Tim Mullaney
Feb 26, 2014
A whistleblower exposed disturbing drug packaging practices being used by long-term care pharmacy Omnicare Inc., but the charges don’t fall under the False Claims Act, a federal appeals court recently...
State News
Feb 01, 2014
MINNESOTA — Residents of rural long-term care facilities have been scrambling to find rides to medical appointments due to a change enacted by Blue Cross/Blue Shield.
Nursing home hospice provider kept patients in hospice for years, overbilled for their care, prosecutors...
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 28, 2014
An Illinois-based hospice provider overbilled Medicare and Medicaid by inappropriately designating nursing home residents as hospice patients, sometimes for years, according to federal charges announced...
Review targets stolen money
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 01, 2013
Leaders in the U.S. Senate have called for a government review of how nursing homes handle facility-managed trust funds.
Caregivers should prepare for some residents to ‘get worse’ during antipsychotic drawdown,...
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 26, 2013
Leaders in long-term care facilities should take steps to ensure that residents with dementia are not unnecessarily put back on antipsychotic medications, according to officials who spoke on a call with...
CMS allows less-severe citations for nursing homes installing a sprinkler system
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 19, 2013
Nursing homes might be able to reduce the scope and severity of deficiency citations related to sprinkler systems, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently announced.