Immigration reform won’t solve long-term care’s fundamental staffing challenge
By
John O'Connor
Apr 05, 2013
Long-term care operators are understandably giddy about the sudden prospect of immigration reform. But they might want to curb their enthusiasm.
Creating tangible value for advanced wound care
By
Valerie Johnson
Mar 11, 2013
Across the country, nursing homes and other long-term care organizations are exploring the relationship between cost and quality of care. The challenge is to find a viable solution for problems such as...
When long-term care experts speak, things can get foggy
By
John O'Connor
Mar 11, 2013
I was hoping to get clear answers about the sector’s future at the National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing & Care Industry’s regional meeting last week in San Diego. I did, but I...
Three hidden reasons why your OT costs are too high
By
Bruce Baron
Feb 25, 2013
Many times it seems that revenues and expenses are going in opposite directions. That’s why it’s important to look for process improvement opportunities to improve the profitability of your...
Why long-term care operators are wary – and weary – of sequestration fiasco
By
John O'Connor
Feb 22, 2013
Well, here we go again. Less than three months after President Obama and Congress narrowly avoided walking off a fiscal cliff, we’re bracing for Round 2. Only this time, we’re all a bit worse...
Do you know your P’s and Q’s of QAPI?
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Feb 21, 2013
The Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement system from CMS is on our doorsteps. As facilities have been training and educating themselves, the new QIS (Quality Indicator Surveys) are ready to roll....
New ATRA cut to Medicare Part B Therapy Payments latest destabilizing blow to spector
By
Alan G. Rosenbloom
Feb 13, 2013
With $9 billion in Budget Relief Act sequester cuts to the U.S. skilled nursing facility (SNF) sector now just weeks away following the latest cut of at least $600 million in Medicare Part B therapy payments...
A toxic nursing home strike that gets weirder by the day
By
John O'Connor
Feb 11, 2013
The late Hunter S. Thompson famously said that when the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. By his logic, the management and workers involved in a strike across five HealthBridge Management facilities...
Loopholes to help you track Medicare Part B therapy billing
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Feb 06, 2013
Every time we send our patients to the hospital for rehab-related tests, exams or services, these services are billed to Medicare Part B, and, therefore, reduce our cap allowances. Any small oversights...
Compounding pharmacies: Are your residents safe?
By
Jennifer L. Hardesty
Jan 11, 2013
Last year’s tragic and deadly meningitis outbreak left many confused about the differences between compounding pharmacies versus others and what compounded medicine is, as well as the way each are...