It was supposed to work like this. When people need long-term care, they pay privately until they’re impoverished. Then and only then Medicaid helps. To avoid that outcome, people were urged to save...
Falling by the wayside
By
Steven Levenson
Oct 24, 2023
This month’s column invokes several previous columns, one about medications and the other about knowing if we know what we don’t know. A recent medical journal article concluded that falls in...
Who benefits behind the scenes from high prescription drug prices?
By
Alan G. Rosenbloom
Oct 16, 2023
If there’s one thing most Americans still agree on, it’s that the ever-increasing cost of healthcare is simply unsustainable. And while there is plenty of blame to go around, one must look at who benefits...
HHS could open the door for more marijuana use in nursing homes
By
Neville M. Bilimoria
Sep 19, 2023
I have been touting the benefits of medical marijuana for nursing home/senior care residents for many years now. As a cannabis attorney, as well, I have been immersed in the research and studies,...
How do we know if we know what we don’t know?
By
Steven Levenson
Sep 08, 2023
The amount of knowledge and skill involved in complying with the OBRA regulations is monumental. Every topic, from pressure injury prevention to behavior management, has many tec hnical details and clinical...
Making sense of two approaches to the skilled nursing quality assurance privilege
By
Mario C. Giannettino
Sep 01, 2023
Skilled nursing facilities are required by law to have quality assessment and assurance committees to maintain and improve safety and quality in their facilities. The documents created and used by the...
More residents with opioid use disorder are coming. Are we ready?
By
Dina Besirevic
Aug 23, 2023
The 55-year-old female resident with multiple wounds on both of her arms wasn’t this nurse’s favorite. Yes, the nurse had provided wound care over the years to many people who were irritable...
AI’s ‘monumental breakthrough’ keeping an eye on your health
By
Neville M. Bilimoria
Aug 21, 2023
In this age of artificial intelligence, I have often spoken and written about new technologies and breakthroughs in healthcare that can be useful for nursing homes and all healthcare providers alike. But...
Lawsuit threat for government-run facilities sails again
By
Brendan Williams
Jun 15, 2023
In 2015 the U.S. Supreme Court, in the case of Armstrong v. Exceptional Child Center, denied Medicaid providers the right to sue over the adequacy of Medicaid payment rates. It was a 5-4 decision...
Unlocking communication: The role of physical, occupational and speech therapy in aphasia
By
Renee Kinder
Jun 08, 2023
Aphasia, noun apha·sia ə-ˈfā-zh(ē-)ə Medical: loss or impairment of the power to use or comprehend words usually resulting from brain damage (as from a stroke, head injury, or infection) Aphasia,...