Hydrocodone restrictions not coming soon, FDA says
By
McKnight's Staff
Mar 15, 2013
Restricting access to hydrocodone painkillers will require a lengthy process unless Congress takes action, the Food and Drug Administration recently told lawmakers.
Updated palliative care guidelines: Providers should increase coordination, embrace QAPI
By
McKnight's Staff
Apr 15, 2013
Palliative care should follow care coordination and quality improvement processes called for by the Affordable Care Act, according to updated guidelines from the National Consensus Project for Quality...
State Medicaid spending growth, enrollment reach near record lows, report finds
By
McKnight's Staff
Oct 25, 2012
Medicaid enrollment growth fell to 3.2% in 2012, compared to 4.4% in 2011. Government spending growth on Medicaid slowed to 2% in 2012, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation Commission on Medicaid and...
CMS frees up $275 million for state coordinated care initiatives
By
McKnight's Staff
Jul 23, 2012
States eager to test payment reform models for federal health programs can apply for awards totaling $275 million, courtesy of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Antipsychotic reduction goal attainable, medical expert says
By
McKnight's Staff
Oct 29, 2012
Providers still have two months left to achieve a reduction of 15% in off-label use of antipsychotics, a goal that is achievable, a top medical expert says.
NASL praises bipartisan effort to delay Medicare competitive bidding program
By
McKnight's Staff
Jun 14, 2013
The National Association for the Support of Long-Term Care has registered strong support for lawmakers who say the government should put the brakes on a Medicare competitive bidding program for durable...
Lawmakers blast federal efforts to monitor and police Medicare fraud — again
By
McKnight's Staff
Jun 11, 2012
Lawmakers again hammered the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Medicare program integrity contractors Friday. The latest salvos were fueled by an agency admission that additional mistakes...
Snoezelen, not snoozing, at 100
By
McKnight's Staff
Apr 01, 2013
It’s noteworthy that the Taylor Care Center in Jacksonville, FL, recently marked the 100th birthday of two residents by inviting an Elvis impersonator to perform. More remarkable: The event celebrated...
House bill would tighten Medicaid eligibility for long-term care
By
McKnight's Staff
Apr 30, 2013
A new House bill would reduce the amount of home equity that is exempted when determining Medicaid eligibility for long-term care. The “Medicaid Program Integrity Act of 2013” would give states...
Ryan budget begets testimony on immigrant workers in nursing homes
By
McKnight's Staff
Mar 15, 2013
Thursday’s Congressional hearing about immigration policy became a forum for discussing how the recently proposed budget from Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) would affect long-term care providers.