Debate over healthcare spending continues as House, Senate pass budgets
By
McKnight's Staff
Mar 25, 2013
Both houses of Congress passed budgets late last week, setting up the next phase of the ongoing debate over healthcare spending.
Regulations for nursing home ethics programs and QAPI still in the works, administrators say
By
McKnight's Staff
Mar 22, 2013
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is still working on the regulations for ethics and compliance programs that nursing homes were supposed to have implemented this month, CMS administrators admitted...
TODAY’S THE DAY: McKnight’s Online Expo kicks off with session on MDS 3.0 as lawmakers reintroduce...
By
McKnight's Staff
Mar 20, 2013
Representatives Sam Graves (R-MO) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) recently reintroduced a bill to ease audit burdens on long-term care providers. Initially put forward in Oct. 2012, the Medicare Audit Improvement...
Senate Democrats’ budget focuses on cost savings through the Affordable Care Act
By
McKnight's Staff
Mar 15, 2013
Senate Budget Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) unveiled a proposed budget Wednesday, offering a plan that contrasts with the one offered earlier in the week by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI).
With Medicare cuts coming, GOP prepares another push for vouchers
By
McKnight's Staff
Mar 05, 2013
House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) is working on a proposed budget that would revamp the Medicare program. Republicans believe the option of turning Medicare into a voucher program may win...
Dementia researchers identify therapies to improve eating habits, reduce depression
By
McKnight's Staff
Mar 01, 2013
A particular type of memory training combined with a Montessori-based approach to daily living can decrease depression in dementia patients by improving their eating habits, according to a recent study.
Sequester would cost SNFs more than $782 million, hit Florida especially hard, report asserts
By
McKnight's Staff
Feb 28, 2013
Skilled nursing facilities in highly populated states on the East Coast and in the Midwest would be hit hardest by Medicare cuts if sequestration takes effect, according to figures released by the Alliance...
Deficit-reduction plan to gain $600 billion from lower provider payments and higher beneficiary premiums
By
McKnight's Staff
Feb 21, 2013
The co-chairs of President Barack Obama’s deficit reduction commission are promoting a way to achieve $600 billion in healthcare “savings” in a new version of their deficit reduction...
Chances of sequester deal look slim after Senate Democrats unveil proposal
By
McKnight's Staff
Feb 19, 2013
A Democratic proposal to replace the sweeping automatic spending cuts known as the sequester appears unlikely to pass the Senate, leading lawmakers and political observers to predict the $85 billion in...
Senate Democrats poised to introduce package to replace sequester cuts
By
McKnight's Staff
Feb 13, 2013
Democrats in the Senate could introduce a bill this week to replace the automatic spending cuts known as the sequester, which is scheduled to take effect March 1. Many long-term care stakeholders have...