Cost, interpretation of new enhanced barrier precautions worry providers as rule kicks in
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 03, 2024
A new set of regulations requiring the use of enhanced barrier precautions for many nursing home patients has left providers scrambling to understand the rationale behind some standards and grappling with...
MedPAC members rip ‘brute force test’ of staffing mandate, ponder consequences and possible gaming
By
Kimberly Marselas
Oct 06, 2023
A key Congressional advisory panel expressed deep skepticism Thursday over the proposed federal nursing home staffing mandate and whether it would address ongoing quality concerns in the post-acute care...
Passing of ‘superwoman’ Sherrie Dornberger, top NADONA exec for the last 20 years, leaves massive...
By
James M. Berklan
May 19, 2024
Sherrie Dornberger, the caregiving powerhouse who bounced back from her own life-threatening medical issues to assume one of long-term care’s top nurse leadership posts, died Wednesday after a two-week...
Study testing new strategy for spotting, managing pain in dementia patients
By
Kimberly Marselas
Feb 01, 2024
Up to 80% of dementia patients living in nursing homes also experience pain, but many struggle to communicate their symptoms. A new study aims to test recently revised guidelines for staff members tasked...
‘Historically high’ overdose and suicide rates requires aggressive, holistic approach in skilled...
By
Josh Henreckson
Jan 25, 2024
Long-term care residents are experiencing “historically high” overdose and suicide rates related to mental health and substance use disorder. Addressing those overlapping trends will require holistic...
Medicare Advantage rule finalizes independent appeals process, helping providers ‘stuck in the middle’
By
Josh Henreckson
Apr 08, 2024
A final rule announced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Thursday revised the appeals process for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries who have been denied coverage. The new rule should be a...
The ‘chameleon’ effect: How major nursing home players are transforming for scale
By
Kimberly Marselas
Feb 16, 2024
Providers looking to scale their skilled nursing businesses face an uphill battle in an economic and regulatory environment that is chewing up even some of the sector’s best-known operators.
Partnerships with pharmacists increasingly important for complex resident needs, care transitions: experts
By
Josh Henreckson
Apr 24, 2024
Building relationships and formal partnerships between long-term care providers and pharmacists is increasingly vital to managing resident care, experts said at a Moving Forward Nursing Home Quality Coalition...
Former union head leads state board able to set wages without funding them
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Sep 18, 2023
The newly appointed head of Minnesota’s Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board managed Gov. Tim Walz’s campaign and headed up political operations for several labor unions but appears to have no experience...
Nursing home struggles expected to worsen hospital backlogs
By
Josh Henreckson
Jan 04, 2024
Nursing homes’ familiar struggles with insufficient staffing and insurance reimbursements are contributing to growing backlogs of patients awaiting throughput from hospitals to post-acute care across...