Rate hike will be only a part of the new Medicare reality
By
John O'Connor
Sep 01, 2014
Many providers are relieved that Medicare rates are slated to go up by 2% in the next fiscal year. After all, who wants to turn down $750 million, especially in a rate-cutting climate?
Facility fined $16,000 after reviving resident with DNR
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 01, 2014
Authorities have fined a Florida nursing home $16,000 for reviving a resident who had a do-not-resuscitate order.
Obamacare replacement bill faces tougher test in Senate
By
James M. Berklan
Apr 05, 2017
While House Republican leaders were trying to tie up loose ends to get their proposal for repealing and replacing Obamacare across the finish line, Senators on both sides of the aisle were predicting a...
Probe: SNF, site of first outbreak, acted slowly
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 01, 2020
A federal investigation found that the Washington state skilled nursing facility where the first U.S. coronavirus outbreak occurred acted slowly in response to warning signs.
Facilities approach 15% goal for antipsychotics reduction
By
John O'Connor
Oct 01, 2013
For decades, many providers have viewed antipsychotic drugs as a necessary evil for treating residents with dementia. But increasingly, these medications are just being seen as evil. So it’s hardly...
Providers hope to delay therapy caps’ full return
Jul 01, 2008
The process that exempts most nursing home residents from therapy payment caps was set to expire at the beginning of this month, federal regulators cautioned providers.
Time to write a ‘new playbook,’ Sloan says
By
James M. Berklan
Dec 01, 2020
Long-term care providers must take charge of their own future and become “catalysts of change” for a better life beyond the coronavirus public health crisis, LeadingAge President and CEO Katie Smith...
With Medicaid ‘broken,’ the fight will go to fraud, waste
By
Elizabeth Newman
May 06, 2017
Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, M.D., called the Medicaid program “broken” and said it needed a stronger focus on fighting fraud and waste during a House subcommittee...
Quality measurements are a ‘game changer,’ expert notes
By
Elizabeth Newman
Sep 05, 2016
Skilled nursing facilities failing to submit data for new quality measures will suffer a 2-percentage point reduction starting with 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services warned in the recent...
SNFs can ask for a 3-month reprieve in quality reporting
By
John O'Connor
Sep 04, 2015
Skilled nursing facilities unable to provide data to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ new quality reporting program will have a 90-day window to request an exception or extension, officials...