Are wound cultures the best method to determine if a wound is infected?
MedPAC focuses on rehab
By
James M. Berklan
Dec 01, 2013
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission could be getting closer to formally recommending more uniform payments to skilled nursing facilities and inpatient rehabilitation facilities.
To fight dementia, learn a new language
By
Elizabeth Newman
Dec 01, 2013
People who speak more than one language tend to develop dementia up to five years later than those who are monolingual, new research reveals.
NCAL and NJ Hospital Association form patient safety organization for assisted living
By
Elizabeth Newman
Nov 22, 2013
The National Center for Assisted Living and the New Jersey Hospital Association have formed the National Patient Safety Organization for Assisted Living. The organization is the first to electronically...
Liability costs climb for long-term care, analysis finds
By
Elizabeth Newman
Nov 22, 2013
A nursing home operator with 100 beds can expect $194,000 in liability expenses in 2014, according to a new analysis from the American Health Care Association and Aon Global Risk Consulting.
ACA put the brakes on spending across the care continuum, White House economists say
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 21, 2013
Spending on healthcare, including skilled nursing care, has grown at a historically slow rate in the last three years, according to a new analysis from the Council of Economic Advisers. The group, which...
CMS too burdened and focused on cost to be the epicenter of long-term care reform, experts say
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 21, 2013
Most long-term care reforms rely on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for implementation, but the overburdened agency cannot manage all the needed changes in this area, according to a panel...
‘Self-reliance’ a key to long-term care financing reform, experts say
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 19, 2013
The United States is likely to favor an approach to long-term care financing reform that values self-reliance but includes some form of social safety net, according to a new report from a panel of experts.
High staff turnover would lead to re-vote on union membership under proposed labor reform law
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 18, 2013
Nursing home workers would have to recertify their union representation after any major changes in staffing, if a newly proposed bill becomes law.
Medicare reform proposal needs fixes for long-term care physicians, AMDA says
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 15, 2013
Prospective Medicare changes regarding physician payments might unfairly penalize doctors working in long-term care settings, according to a prominent medical directors association.