CMS issues more in-depth survey guidelines to reduce readmissions; invites comments on assistant reporting
By
McKnight's Staff
May 20, 2013
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has revised the provider certification manual for hospitals, giving more in-depth guidelines around discharge planning. The goal is for hospitals to reduce...
Changing the conversation: How Americans talk, think and feel about aging
By
Bruce Chernof, M.D.
Jun 01, 2011
In my 25 years as a physician, I’ve never heard anyone describe themselves as a “functionally impaired patient with chronic multiple conditions,” a “long-term care recipient”...
The star treatment is here to stay
By
John O'Connor
Jul 20, 2012
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has just rolled out its latest version of Nursing Home Compare. If your facility garnered five stars, you probably love it. If you received one star, you surely...
Supreme Court levels the playing field for SNFs
By
Alan C. Horowitz, Esq., RN
May 01, 2023
As part of its survey process, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is authorized to take several enforcement actions, including but not limited to imposing civil money penalties (CMP), denials...
Raises, respect and education are top desires in CNA survey
By
Amy Novotney
Sep 12, 2023
For the second time in a row, staffing shortages were the top concern cited in the annual poll conducted by the National Association of Health Care Assistants.
Regulators go overtime fielding comments and questions on nursing home star-rating system
Jun 25, 2008
While the focus of regulators’ “Open Door Forum” conference call Tuesday might have first appeared to be about getting ready for the December rollout of a new nursing home ranking system,...
How soon is soon enough?
By
William Vaughan
Jul 31, 2013
The word “immediate” in the State Operation Manual, Appendix PP – Guidance to Surveyors for Long Term Care Facilities can be interpreted in multiple ways. Determining the timing of interventions...
The case for dialogue over swift sentencing
By
Arif Nazir, MD, CMD
May 02, 2018
As a leader in the nursing home setting, I see the accountability game played out quite often. Mostly, it’s a facility has failed to meet a certain standard of care and a state surveyor, during a...
A survey and regulatory review of 2013
By
Steven Littlehale
Feb 24, 2014
It’s important to do a review that considers your region and state. Identify how complaints and care deficiencies were handled last year.
Why the survey system may never be fixed
By
John O'Connor
Sep 05, 2014
Given certain realities about skilled-nursing facility inspections, we should not be wondering why cheating has occurred. Rather, we should be amazed it hasn’t been more rampant.