Even before the fall convention season started, providers could be pretty sure about what grand messages they were going to hear from the big guys: Work hard, produce good records, make better networking...
No more Rehab Medium RUG defaults
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Oct 08, 2013
Well, Oct. 1 has passed, and we’re all still hanging in. The biggest changes we saw to rehab were the addition of reporting co-treatment minutes on our billing logs and Section O on the MDS. And,...
Caning and caring: A model for LTC reform
By
Tim Mullaney
Oct 07, 2013
A country famous for caning its youngsters ought to be better known for the way it cares for its elders. At least, that’s the argument of a new book by William Haseltine, a former Harvard Medical...
What’s your view from the outside?
By
Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC
Oct 01, 2013
I bet a few of you are going to be thinking while you read this, “What has this got to do with a healthcare blog?” Give me a minute and you will see where I am going with it.You will see a...
Therapy with a twist (of lemon)
By
Tim Mullaney
Oct 01, 2013
As you read this, you might be eyeing the new RAI manual that takes effect today, and are feeling a bit overwhelmed at the sheer number of new pages. So it’s with great regret that I have to add...
Provider still riding high two years after ‘Piano Guys’ created viral video
By
James M. Berklan
Sep 30, 2013
Many a long-term care provider has been known to sample Cub Scout choirs, tamburitza bands and alleyways of off-off-off Broadway in search of talent to entertain his or her residents. Then, there are the...
Ready or not: The MDS is changing again!
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Sep 25, 2013
On Oct. 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will be updating the Minimum Data Set with another round of changes. Most are minor but there will be two changes to the therapy section. Your case-mix...
Not angry about the LTC Commission’s report? You should be
By
John O'Connor
Sep 20, 2013
It’s hard to comment on the Commission on Long-Term Care’s just-submitted report without getting hacked off. Really, really hacked off. To call it a fool’s errand would be to insult misdirected...
Farewell to long-term care
By
Ashley Carman
Sep 13, 2013
My first day as a McKnight’s intern started with my editor, Elizabeth Newman, rattling off information about CMS. I listened for a few minutes before confessing that I had no idea what CMS meant....
What’s on Your PEPPER Report?
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Sep 10, 2013
Have you received your provider-specific PEPPER report yet? The Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic Report (PEPPER) were mailed on August 30 and have been slowly arriving at skilled nursing...