CDC tightens Ebola guidelines for healthcare workers
By
Tim Mullaney
Oct 22, 2014
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued more stringent guidelines for how healthcare workers should interact with Ebola patients, following an outcry from nurses and other professionals.
Facilities on high alert for Ebola in Ohio; authorities issue guidance
By
Tim Mullaney
Oct 17, 2014
Federal and state organizations have released new Ebola guidance for healthcare workers in long-term care and other settings, following the second case of a nurse acquiring the virus in the United States....
Long-term care providers might need to change pain management to cut opioid use, MedPAC analyst says
By
Tim Mullaney
Oct 15, 2014
Long-term care and other providers might have to alter their pain management practices if changes discussed at a recent Medicare Payment Advisory Commission meeting come to pass.
Providers should expect ‘disruption’ but are ready for Five Star changes, Parkinson says
By
Tim Mullaney
Oct 10, 2014
Coming changes to the Five Star rating system for nursing homes will “cause some disruption,” but many long-term care providers already are on track, according to American Health Care Association/National...
Hospice billings changed
By
Tim Mullaney
Oct 01, 2014
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently updated instructions on coding hospice claims. Billing staffs should be aware of these changes, which went into effect Oct. 1, CMS stated in a memorandum...
Agencies offer resource for improving LGBT inclusion
By
Amy Novotney
Oct 01, 2014
Many older lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender adults residing in long-term care facilities do not feel safe being open about their sexual identities, experts say.
Ask the care expert … about end-of-life wound care
By
Sherrie Dornberger
Oct 01, 2014
I work on a floor in a skilled care facility where most residents are on hospice or at the end of life. Some have wounds that will never heal. How should we care for these?
No ACOs have reliable interoperability with external organizations, survey finds
By
Tim Mullaney
Sep 25, 2014
A widespread lack of interoperable technology threatens the Accountable Care Organization model, according to recently released survey results.
MedPAC chairman: Three-day stay requirement is ‘archaic’
By
Tim Mullaney
Sep 16, 2014
The government should pay for skilled nursing care without a preliminary three-day hospital stay, and the recovery auditor program should be reformed, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission members said...
NC nursing home reaches $35,000 settlement over charges it discriminated against disabled worker
By
Tim Mullaney
Sep 11, 2014
A North Carolina long-term care company has reached a $35,000 settlement over charges that it discriminated against a cook/dietary aide with a physical impairment, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission...