Public reactions to healthcare reform depressing, disturbing
By
Liza Berger
Aug 19, 2009
I can’t help but cheer some comments Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) made on Tuesday. In his brash way of speaking, he summed up my sentiments exactly. On Tuesday during a town-hall meeting in his state,...
Who knew? Repeal of RUG-IV delay in bill one day and out the next
By
Liza Berger
Jul 26, 2010
When crafting legislation, horse trades are a well-established part of the ritual. What’s unfortunate is that many people who have a stake in these deals don’t know about them.
Singing the baby boomer blues
By
Liza Berger
Aug 26, 2008
So you think you’re a baby boomer? Try these characteristics on for size: -Being a boomer means 60 is the new 40.-You’ll probably live longer than your parents, only you’ll still be on a diet in...
Revisiting housing and care for the mentally ill
By
Liza Berger
Jul 01, 2009
A story this week sheds new light on the challenge of providing care and housing for the mentally ill. As McKnight’s reported today, the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, a mental law advocacy group,...
The attraction of home- and community-based services
By
Liza Berger
Jun 25, 2009
You can’t ignore the signs. A new bill would allow states to use funds for home- and community- based services. A pending proposal would permit states to combine three separate HCBS Medicaid waivers....
No coronavirus fools here
By
Liza Berger
Apr 01, 2020
Unreal days like these forge that unique substance called character.
Nursing homes’ quality campaign shows promise
By
Liza Berger
May 08, 2009
Nursing homes can pat themselves on the back this week. At least, nearly 7,400 can. That is the number of facilities participating in the Advancing Excellence Campaign, an initiative supported by both...
Star rating system: Expedia for nursing homes?
By
Liza Berger
Jun 20, 2008
Yes, you too could be the Four Seasons of nursing homes. As we all know by now, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services plans to create a five-star quality rating system for facilities (see stories...
Disgraced
By
Liza Berger
Mar 13, 2008
If you are a news junkie you likely are feeding your habit this week with the scandal surrounding former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer. Spitzer, most of the Western world likely knows, resigned Wednesday...
It’s time for private nursing home rooms
By
Liza Berger
Nov 04, 2020
What’s it going to take to protect nursing home residents from the coronavirus? As the pandemic wears on after eight months, making its daily trudge across the United States and back, one answer...