Court green-lights charges that a healthcare network underused observation stays
By
Tim Mullaney
Oct 23, 2014
A whistleblower can continue to pursue charges that a Nevada healthcare network routinely admitted people as hospital inpatients when they should have been placed in observation status, a federal appeals...
Current quality measures are unfair to providers serving economically disadvantaged populations, National...
By
Tim Mullaney
Apr 30, 2014
Nursing homes and other healthcare providers face reduced reimbursements from government programs if they serve economically disadvantaged patients, according to a recent National Quality Forum report....
Skilled nursing edges toward 90% occupancy, absorption rate makes first gain in nearly a decade, NIC...
By
Tim Mullaney
Apr 14, 2014
Skilled nursing facilities’ occupancy rate continued to tick up in the first three months of 2014, while absorption flipped into positive territory for the first time in almost a decade, according...
Hospitals worried about readmissions should focus on nearby nursing homes’ pressure ulcer stats,...
By
Tim Mullaney
Apr 11, 2014
Out of various quality measures, pressure ulcer prevalence in particular predicts whether a nursing home will readmit residents to the hospital, according to newly published findings in HSR: Health Services...
Direct-care workers may be best leaders of interdisciplinary senior care teams, expert tells LTC Commission
By
Tim Mullaney
Aug 22, 2013
The Congressional Commission on Long-Term Care met for its fourth public hearing Tuesday and focused on service delivery and workforce issues.
Nursing homes tend to administer high-risk medications to returning residents, study shows
By
Tim Mullaney
Sep 12, 2014
Nursing homes may be ratcheting up high-risk medication use for certain residents who return to the facility after a stay in the hospital, according to recently published findings.
Long-term care groups applaud a pause in Medicare audits, urge permanent changes
By
Tim Mullaney
Feb 21, 2014
Long-term care stakeholders are praising the government’s decision to temporarily pause the recovery audit contractor program, which is associated with a huge backlog of Medicare claims appeals.
Department of Labor extends minimum wage to home health workers
By
Tim Mullaney
Sep 18, 2013
The Department of Labor has announced it will extend minimum wage and overtime protections to home health workers providing direct care, earning cheers from long-time advocates of this policy.
Ruling: No penalties mean no chance to appeal rating
By
Tim Mullaney
Jun 01, 2013
Nursing homes that dispute a deficiency citation without Immediate Jeopardy and want it stricken from the public record should consider withholding a plan of correction, a recent court ruling suggests.
Long-term care liability costs expected to increase 5%
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 14, 2014
Long-term care providers should prepare for higher liability costs, which are anticipated to increase by 5% on a national basis in 2015, according to an analysis released Thursday by the American Health...