CMS too burdened and focused on cost to be the epicenter of long-term care reform, experts say
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 21, 2013
Most long-term care reforms rely on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for implementation, but the overburdened agency cannot manage all the needed changes in this area, according to a panel...
Medicare reform proposal needs fixes for long-term care physicians, AMDA says
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 15, 2013
Prospective Medicare changes regarding physician payments might unfairly penalize doctors working in long-term care settings, according to a prominent medical directors association.
Long-term care financing reform – progress is possible
By
Brian D. Ellsworth and Arthur Y. Webb
Nov 13, 2013
When the federal Commission on Long-term Care issued its report last month, there was a sense of déjà vu all over again. Sixteen years ago, in New York State, we were staff person and task force member,...
Price increases, not a larger senior population, are responsible for exploding healthcare costs: analysts
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 13, 2013
Escalating healthcare costs in the United States cannot be pinned on an aging population demanding more services for chronic conditions. Instead, higher costs are primarily the result of price increases,...
Singing show tunes combats dementia: study
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 13, 2013
Long-term care operators might want to add show-tune sing-alongs to their dementia care plans, new research suggests.
Financing reform rift in LTC commission
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 01, 2013
The Commission on Long-Term Care has released its full report to Congress, but some commissioners broke ranks, saying the bipartisan panel did not fulfill its mandate to offer recommendations for comprehensive...
McKnight’s Roundtable: Changes ahead
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 01, 2013
Top long-term care officers tackled some of the field’s main challenges, exchanged perspectives on new opportunities and shared ideas on what the future might hold.
Rules of engagement
By
Julie Williamson
Nov 01, 2013
Personalized programming is a hallmark of effective, enriching dementia care; providing what’s needed becomes easier by knowing habits and preferences.
Government shutdown ends, but Howard Dean tells long-term care providers to expect continued gridlock
By
Tim Mullaney
Oct 17, 2013
A deal originating in the Senate has restored federal government funding and raised the nation’s debt ceiling, ending a 16-day government shutdown that threatened senior services programs and nursing...
Providers to learn: never enough friends in play
By
James M. Berklan
Oct 01, 2013
Sometimes long-term care providers struggle to find meaning in the signs that are strewn in their path. Whether it’s legalese, regulatory gobbledy-gook or some form of bureaucracy, uncertain messages...