Several so-called “red states” are leaning toward or have outright abandoned plans to allow expansion of their Medicaid programs, bucking a nationwide groundswell of program enrollment under...
Joint exercise
By
John Hall
Apr 05, 2017
One year into the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement bundled pay program results are mixed, creating heightened anxiety about possible expansion
Evaluating good drugs
By
John Hall
Feb 04, 2016
The long-term care profession wrestles with medication management challenges, including opioid abuse, polypharmacy and overdosing
Controversial Medicare auditors group changes name, website
By
John Hall
Mar 02, 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.
SNF aides rated among the unhealthiest eaters in U.S.
By
John Hall
Jun 05, 2017
Nurses and doctors may be the healthiest workers in the U.S. labor force. But no field other than firefighters and law enforcement has worse health and eating habits than healthcare aides, 40% of whom...
Chicago’s massive suit over OxyContin alleges painkiller drug companies have misled prescribers and patients, leaving many woefully addicted and the city with enormous costs for treating them.
Congress mulls Medicaid-Medicare pay parity, and end of ‘doc fixes’
By
John Hall
Mar 16, 2015
Long-term care providers are closely monitoring two major lawmaking efforts in Washington this week that have both chambers of Congress debating a plan to end annual Medicare cuts and abolish painful “fixes”...
CVS pays $22 million to settle painkiller prescription allegations
By
John Hall
May 28, 2015
While the long-term care industry continues seeking internal solutions to stem drug diversion and over-prescribing of powerful painkillers and opioids, federal and state law enforcement agencies are beginning...
Controversy erupts after webcam removal from disabled resident’s nursing home room
By
John Hall
Apr 06, 2015
It’s not clear yet whether Pennsylvania will become the fifth state to adopt rules or laws prohibiting or allowing private video recording or surveillance in nursing homes. But one Philadelphia nursing...
‘Observation status’ provision under further review
By
John Hall
Feb 27, 2015
The American Health Care Association on Thursday applauded a House measure that would inform Medicare beneficiaries of their observation status as hospital inpatient or outpatients. But that might be little...