$90 million verdict against HCR ManorCare will stand, judge rules
By
McKnight's Staff
Apr 15, 2013
HCR ManorCare was appropriately penalized $90 million in a case involving resident neglect and understaffing, a judge in West Virginia ruled last week. Lawyers for the nursing home company said they would...
Murray, Ryan begin budget negotiations as long-term care providers analyze White House plan
By
McKnight's Staff
Apr 12, 2013
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) met Wednesday to discuss budget negotiations. The architects of the House and Senate budgets had a “constructive discussion” and are “working...
Long-term care groups protest Obama budget’s $81 billion in Medicare cuts
By
McKnight's Staff
Apr 11, 2013
The White House’s proposed budget includes $81 billion in Medicare payment reductions to long-term care providers. The reductions would take place over 10 years, as part of the Obama administration’s...
CMS changes nursing home inspections in response to sequestration cuts
By
McKnight's Staff
Apr 10, 2013
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will change some nursing home survey procedures in response to budget cuts from sequestration, according to memos released Tuesday. The CMS Survey & Certification...
Reduce Medicare payments for hospice care in skilled nursing facilities, MedPAC suggests
By
McKnight's Staff
Apr 08, 2013
The government should consider Medicare payment cuts for hospice services provided in skilled nursing facilities, according to Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) commissioners. A reduction of...
Proposed new visa could pave the way for more immigrant nursing home workers
By
McKnight's Staff
Apr 02, 2013
More immigrant workers could be employed in the nation’s nursing homes in coming years under a deal reached Friday.
HHS issues final rule on federal payment rates for new Medicaid beneficiaries
By
McKnight's Staff
Apr 01, 2013
The federal government will pay 100% of the Medicaid costs for certain newly eligible beneficiaries under the Affordable Care Act, the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed in a final rule...
Limiting use of common antihistamines could reduce C. diff in facilities, researchers say
By
McKnight's Staff
Mar 29, 2013
Taking antihistamines such as Tagamet, Pepcid and Zantac increases the risk that people in healthcare settings will be infected with Clostridium difficile, according to a recently published study.
CMS to post more nursing home deficiency data online next month
By
McKnight's Staff
Mar 27, 2013
Citing the desire for the public to know more about nursing homes, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will make more information about nursing home deficiencies available online next month, according...
Counties are only liable for poor nursing home care caused by municipal policies, judge rules
By
McKnight's Staff
Mar 27, 2013
Even if county nursing home workers provide poor care, the county is not liable unless the employees are executing an official policy, a federal judge in Pennsylvania recently ruled, providing a victory...