Congressional advisors waver on eliminating observation stays
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 21, 2015
Getting rid of hospital observation stays might not be a good idea after all, according to Medicare Payment Advisory Commission members who previously pushed for the change. Even if observation status...
Hospice benefit should be redesigned with nursing home residents in mind, researcher says
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 11, 2014
Medicare policy should change to better support nursing home residents who need hospice care, say investigators at the Regenstrief Institute and the Indiana University Center for Aging Research. They have...
McKnight’s panel: A brighter future for SNFs
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 01, 2014
Long-term care providers can harness healthcare reform to become more profitable and competitive than ever, but success is not guaranteed. Proactive organizations with advanced technology tools already...
Nursing home resident died during evacuation, NY Times reports
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 25, 2014
A 92-year-old resident died during the evacuation of a nursing home in western New York last week, The New York Times reported Sunday.
Draft bill proposes counting observation stays for SNF coverage, limiting RAC oversight
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 24, 2014
Hospital observation stays would count toward establishing Medicare eligibility for post-acute services, under comprehensive reforms in a new draft bill from the House Committee on Ways and Means. The...
Massive snowstorm forces partial evacuation of NY nursing home
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 20, 2014
Ten New York counties were in a state of emergency Wednesday, and one nursing home near Buffalo had to partially evacuate the building after a deadly winter storm swept through the area.
SNF staffing data will be submitted quarterly, payroll vendors might be responsible, CMS officials say
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 14, 2014
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services soon will begin collecting quarterly staffing information from skilled nursing facilities, albeit on a voluntary basis, an official said during an Open Door...
‘Spending down’ for Medicaid is the most practical LTC financing plan for most Americans,...
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 14, 2014
Forgoing long-term care insurance and relying on Medicaid is the smartest financial planning decision for the majority of unmarried Americans, according to investigators at Boston College’s Center...
CMS: Nurse shortage means hospices can keep using contracted workers
By
Tim Mullaney
Oct 08, 2014
Hospices can continue to rely on contract nurses because an ongoing nurse shortage is preventing providers from meeting their staffing needs, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced in a...
OK nursing home worker threatened to behead colleague in a terrorist act, authorities say
By
Tim Mullaney
Sep 30, 2014
Police in Oklahoma City have arrested a nursing home worker who allegedly threatened to behead another staff member out of solidarity with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, according to news sources.