Experts tell lawmakers: Obama Medicare proposals would hurt long-term care — or maybe not
By
McKnight's Staff
May 22, 2013
U.S. lawmakers heard mixed messages at a hearing Tuesday on how proposed Medicare cost-sharing reforms would impact long-term care. The House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health focused in particular...
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...
Government initiatives aim to decrease number of disabled people in nursing homes
By
McKnight's Staff
May 17, 2013
The federal government is ramping up efforts to reduce the number of disabled people in nursing homes through interagency initiatives. While many disabled people have already been moved out of nursing...
Fecal transplants to treat C. diff now need FDA approval
By
McKnight's Staff
May 17, 2013
The Food and Drug Administration is moving to tighten regulations around fecal transplants, which research has shown to be an effective treatment for Clostridium difficile infection.
CMS updates SNF Medicare manual to implement sequestration cuts
By
McKnight's Staff
May 16, 2013
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has updated the online Medicare Provider Reimbursement Manual, modifying instructions related to the 2% reimbursement reductions resulting from sequestration.
Replace FMAP with Medicaid funding system that better accounts for seniors, government report says
By
McKnight's Staff
May 15, 2013
The federal government could distribute Medicaid dollars to states more effectively by looking at data that better reflects the needs of nursing home residents and workers, according to a new report from...
Influential guidelines for end-of-life care updated by Hastings Center
By
McKnight's Staff
May 15, 2013
The Hastings Center has updated its “Guidelines for Decisions on Life-Sustaining Treatment and Care Near the End of Life.” The original 1987 guidelines were influential.
Providers respond to report of inadequate government oversight of antipsychotics prescriptions
By
McKnight's Staff
May 14, 2013
Long-term care organizations have responded to a report that physicians are prescribing antipsychotic medications for seniors without proper oversight from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services....
Judge closes book on lawsuit involving nursing home residents with intellectual, developmental disabilities
By
McKnight's Staff
May 10, 2013
A U.S. District Court judge has brought a definitive end to a large, long-running class action case involving nursing home residents with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
Healthcare reform precipitates split in Extendicare’s U.S. and Canadian operations, CEO says
By
McKnight's Staff
May 10, 2013
Extendicare Inc., which operates more than 240 senior care centers, will be splitting up its U.S. and Canadian businesses, the company announced Thursday.