Providers ‘on notice’ as CMS pressures states to shift Medicaid pay metrics
By
Kimberly Marselas
Nov 10, 2022
Providers still struggling to accurately capture diagnoses that drive federal reimbursement will be doubly left behind as more states start to use Patient Driven Payment Model-like systems to determine...
Oral zinc reduces severe COVID in nearly 40% of patients, study finds
Nov 08, 2022
Patients who took oral zinc twice daily for 15 days had a 42% reduced likelihood of death and intensive care unit admission, a randomized controlled trial has found.
Observation status overuse undercuts hospital readmission progress
By
Kimberly Marselas
Nov 30, 2022
Major strides in reducing hospital readmissions, an often-cited indicator of quality in both acute and post-acute settings, were actually overstated when taking into account the rising use of observation...
Palliative care reaches more people with default consult order option, study finds
By
Kristen Fischer
Jan 18, 2024
Here’s a way to make sure that people receive palliative care sooner rather than later: Make clinicians evaluate the patient for it when people are hospitalized.
Half a century and 4 million meals haven’t slowed down this long-term care culinary king
By
Josh Henreckson
Apr 10, 2024
For almost as long as there has been a Buena Vista Care Center in Santa Barbara, CA, Miguel Pulido has been there — making sure the residents of the nursing home are fed and happy.
Aging committee chair delivers another broadside about nursing home surveys
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Jul 28, 2023
A powerful US senator is bringing added firepower in his quest to fix what he sees as major issues with state surveys of nursing homes. It’s an effort that had one leading advocate channeling Alanis...
CMS proposal offers long-awaited fix for Medicare Advantage appeals
By
Kimberly Marselas
Nov 08, 2023
Skilled nursing providers would get a new, improved appeals process for Medicare Advantage denials under a proposal issued late Monday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
State panel approves nursing home worker minimum wages, including $24 hourly for CNAs
By
Josh Henreckson
May 01, 2024
A Minnesota panel tasked with creating pay levels for nursing facilities approved a minimum wage for all nursing home workers Monday, following a concerted push from consumer advocates and union workers.
Long-term care picks up 11,000 jobs but recovery resembles roller-coaster ride
By
Kimberly Marselas
Nov 07, 2022
Nursing homes and residential care facilities gained another 11,000 jobs in October, a quick rebound after a fresh slump in September.
APIC urges healthcare workers to continue masking despite CDC pullback
By
Joe Bush
Oct 04, 2022
A major association for infection prevention professionals is strongly urging its members to continue masking in patient care areas even though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention loosened its...