All hope is not lost for skilled nursing providers hoping for relief from a planned reduction in reimbursement rates, a top payment expert recently told McKnight’s Long-Term Care News.
Reform payment to compel hiring, home-like changes: expert
By
Danielle Brown
May 03, 2022
Lawmakers must first tackle “relatively low” Medicaid reimbursement rates for nursing homes if they want to prod providers into hiring more staff, adopting more home-like models of care and improving...
Minimum staffing measure not the way to improve quality, ‘not too worried’ Ensign leader says
By
Danielle Brown
May 02, 2022
The federal government’s plan to implement minimum staffing requirements for nursing homes isn’t the way to improve quality at facilities, the Ensign Group’s top leader said Friday.
Older cancer patients’ high pain rates may hinder functional independence: study
By
Alicia Lasek (f3)
May 02, 2022
The prevalence of severe pain in these patients raises the risk for functional impairment and underscores the crucial role of screening for and treating it, investigators say.
Hybrid and virtual cardiac rehab patients show similar improvements, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek (f3)
May 02, 2022
Whether it’s delivered virtually or in-person, cardiac rehabilitation has the same potential to improve healthcare measures, investigators say.
What’s the ideal number of sleep hours for older adults? Study says 7
By
Alicia Lasek (f3)
May 02, 2022
Helping older adults achieve 7 hours of nightly sleep may help them maintain optimal cognitive health, especially those with dementia and psychiatric disorders, researchers say.
Clinical briefs for Monday, May 2
By
Alicia Lasek (f3)
May 02, 2022
OIG: Medicare Advantage plans denying, delaying services to beneficiaries … FDA approves first drug in its class to treat the heart ailment obstructive HCM … Intranasal insulin may boost function in...
CMS to providers: Start phasing out COVID emergency waivers
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 29, 2022
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is warning providers to begin retiring unnecessary COVID emergency waivers as the potential end of the public health emergency declaration approaches.
Community burden of dementia symptoms mirrors that of nursing homes, caregiver survey finds
By
Alicia Lasek (f3)
Apr 29, 2022
Frequent, unsubtle symptoms have a big impact on patient quality of life, but are often unreported in primary care, investigators report.
Spacing PT sessions helps Parkinson’s patients maintain functional gains: study
Apr 29, 2022
Scheduling therapy sessions every two weeks over six months appears to support long-term functional stability in patients with Parkinson’s disease, researchers say.