How the feds can pay for the nursing home staffing mandate
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 11, 2024
Long-term care providers are being indoctrinated yet again to a harsh life lesson that goes something like this: He with the biggest stick usually wins. Sub in “deepest pockets” for “biggest stick”...
Why providers should be thankful for the federal staffing mandate
By
James M. Berklan
Jun 06, 2024
There is undeniably a vein of good in the federal nursing home staffing mandate for providers otherwise fearing the worst.
National standardized surveys for nursing homes in the works
By
James M. Berklan
Dec 02, 2015
You kind of get the sense that a government watchdog didn’t want to believe the good numbers coming out of its latest research into nursing home care, so it felt the need to introduce uncertainty.
How should long-term care providers celebrate? Let us count the ways
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 31, 2016
Long-term care operators have plenty of reasons to recoil and lick their wounds over the course of a year. But there are also good times when they should find reason to smile. Like this past week.
Why nursing homes can exhale — but not get complacent
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 07, 2017
The announced delay of full enforcement of new survey requirements is indeed good news for nursing home operators and all of their compliance officers. Their blood pressure should now lower a few millimeters....
Where long-term care’s money is spent when it’s for ‘technology’
By
James M. Berklan
Jun 13, 2014
Healthcare providers are considered relatively slow technology adopters, and long-term care operators as a sub-group are believed to be among the slowest. Whether or not that’s true, at least you...
Time to ask the tough question: Are you ready for the big O?
By
James M. Berklan
Jan 05, 2023
“Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be,” Lincoln is quoted as saying. As long-term care heads into 2023, it’s more apropos than ever.
Too good to be true? A kinder, gentler survey process at hand
By
James M. Berklan
Aug 28, 2020
California is promoting a kinder and gentler surveying corps, and some people are going crazy over it.
No longer the CMS boss, Verma sounds more like provider friend than foe
By
James M. Berklan
Nov 03, 2023
Dwell on the past too much at your own peril, but providers could be forgiven if Seema Verma had them fondly looking back Wednesday.
The power of the MDS, and the will to rein it in
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 05, 2014
The Minimum Data Set helps determine how resident care is classified and reimbursed. Because it drives providers’ fate, virtually from start to finish, providers cling to any nugget they can glean...