Marquis Companies soars to 82% staff vaccination rate, eyes ‘downhill run’ to previous routines
By
James M. Berklan
Feb 11, 2021
Northwest-based Marquis Companies not only already completed its third round of staff and resident COVID-19 vaccinations over the weekend, it also registered what could be the nation’s best 82% staff...
No easy solution ahead for LTC funding dilemma
By
James M. Berklan
Jan 15, 2008
The year-end scramble for Medicare and Medicaid dollars ended with a bang — and the usual whimpers from various provider interests. There were winners on one side, losers on the other. And then there...
Provider gives perfect response to Hurricane Harvey evacuation critics … and then gets taken to...
By
James M. Berklan
Sep 14, 2017
Late last week, I latched onto what I thought — and still think — is a great example of how a provider should respond to a bad public relations incident. We’re talking standing up to critics...
Analysts break ground with first batch of SNF Medicare Advantage data
By
James M. Berklan
Oct 11, 2021
Managed care plans typically hold all the cards when it comes to rate-setting. But a new way of analyzing billing data could finally give increasingly leveraged providers a better leg to stand on, financial...
Parkinson warns of new ‘enormous’ business problem for nursing homes; highlights staffing-minimum...
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 31, 2022
Overall clinical outcomes may be on the upswing in nursing homes, but most operators have a major new business problem to prepare for, the leader of the country’s largest provider association says.
CMS improperly measuring outcomes, report claims
By
James M. Berklan
Jan 01, 2014
So far, some providers have been put through a wringer without enough verification that it’s been worth it, according to a new Government Accountability Office report.
Major nursing home provider-lobbying groups to merge
By
James M. Berklan
May 28, 2013
The nation’s two strongest long-term care provider lobbying groups are uniting to form a singular, more powerful voice, the pair announced Tuesday morning.
A social cure for some long-term care ills
By
James M. Berklan
Dec 12, 2012
Finally. Firm scientific research that drinking in groups is better than drinking alone. Wait, it’s not what you think. We’re talking seniors. We’re talking social. We’re talking...
CMS ‘game-changer’ doubles pay on COVID-19 testing at nursing homes
By
James M. Berklan
Apr 16, 2020
High-volume labs that test for COVID-19 at nursing homes are going to reap double the amount of pay under a new policy announced Wednesday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Providers force feds’ hand on COVID-19 reporting guidance
By
James M. Berklan
May 01, 2020
Some legal aspects about publicly reporting nursing homes’ COVID-19 infection rates and deaths were being ironed out as of press time. But federal authorities made it clear in late April that facilities...