Cut the hypocrisy when it comes to flu shots for health workers
By
James M. Berklan
Dec 10, 2014
Providers get enough pressure about vaccinating their employees. They don’t need the hypocrisy dished out by surveyors too.
Any eggrolls with that, Sweetie?
By
Lori Porter
Dec 08, 2014
It so happened that in the drive-thru at Panda Express recently, I had an epiphany. Let me explain.
The schizophrenia of patient-centered care
By
Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC
Nov 11, 2014
Is it me or sometimes do the wide interpretations within the State Operations Manual (the dreaded “RED book”) make you want to question your entire existence? I mean, we’ve been working...
Why the New York Times’ ‘hatchet job’ shows better days are coming to long-term care
By
John O'Connor
Aug 26, 2014
A pall hangs over this sector at the moment, thanks to the New York Times.
Ask the care expert … about interpretive guidance
By
Sherrie Dornberger
Mar 01, 2014
I heard there was communication to surveyors on being required to cite the regulation and not the interpretive guidance. Where can I find this?
CMS puts surveyors on alert for those ‘gaming’ system
By
James M. Berklan
Oct 01, 2013
Federal regulators say surveyors need to prevent providers from possibly “gaming” the system when it comes to the timing of surveys and sales.
CMS issues guidance on survey timing for facilities that change ownership
By
Tim Mullaney
Sep 10, 2013
Surveyors should prevent providers from being able to game the Medicare system through well-timed facility sales and purchases, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services instructed in a recent memorandum.
New bill improves on nursing home surveys and surveyor training
By
Ashley Carman
Aug 01, 2013
A new House bill aims to improve the nursing home survey process, enhance whistleblower protections for surveyors and establish an advisory committee for CMS that would include skilled nursing facility...
How soon is soon enough?
By
William Vaughan
Jul 31, 2013
The word “immediate” in the State Operation Manual, Appendix PP – Guidance to Surveyors for Long Term Care Facilities can be interpreted in multiple ways. Determining the timing of interventions...
Court tosses out citation for runny eggs, limits surveyors
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 01, 2013
Slapped with an Immediate Jeopardy citation for serving undercooked eggs to residents, a nursing home took its defense to a federal appeals court — and won. The court staked out limits on how government...