Sen. John Rockefeller IV (D-WV), chairman of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health, continues to advocate for a stronger role for the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC).
Tax bill reveals a great divide in long-term care
By
John O'Connor
Dec 04, 2017
One of the more interesting aspects of the epic battle over the tax reform bill has been this sector’s response. One major long-term care organization continues to blast proposed changes while the...
Talk about tech tools
By
John O'Connor
Jul 02, 2012
After reading through some of the numerous applications for our first annual McKnight’s Excellence In Technology Awards — Connect Our World, I’m here to tell you that plenty of tech-based...
GE, Microsoft to launch health data firm
By
John O'Connor
Feb 01, 2012
Microsoft announced that it will partner with General Electric to form a new company that makes healthcare information more accessible. The partners said they hope to optimize the treatment that healthcare...
GOP leaders promise bills will be approved
By
John O'Connor
Dec 01, 2014
Republicans were able to retake control of the Senate, while adding to their margin in the U.S. House. Now comes the hard part: actually governing.
For many residents, the shoe doesn’t fit
By
John O'Connor
Oct 01, 2012
Many people with diabetes wear shoes that may contribute to pressure ulcer formation, according to Dutch investigators. Their simple solution: better-designed footwear that actually offloads pressure.
Anti-institution bias apparent at hearing
By
John O'Connor
Apr 01, 2009
A recent Senate hearing called on lawmakers revamping the nation’s healthcare system to remember long-term care.
The right prescription?
By
John O'Connor
Nov 02, 2018
If you want to know what skilled care will look like in five years, consider what hospitals look like today. The first time I heard that adage was in 1990. These days, it rings truer than ever. To be sure,...
Reducing seniors’ drug use, one iPod at a time
By
John O'Connor
Mar 28, 2014
For reasons that are understandable yet hard to countenance, antipsychotic drugs are widely used in nursing homes. Too often over-used, according to government statistics. But it’s beginning to look...
Medicare payment group changes name
By
John O'Connor
Apr 06, 2015
A Medicare payment watchdog group saddled with huge case backlogs and heavily criticized for causing delays in resolving reimbursement issues has changed its name and location on the web.