Many long-term care operators have begun to put wellness programs in place. And by most accounts, they seem to be working out well so far. But do wellness programs really work? The short answer appears...
Stars aligned for shift
By
John O'Connor
Oct 01, 2014
The Five Star rating system is about to get retooled, thanks to a scathing report in The New York Times. The only real question is how extensive the changes will be.
CMS wants to know how you make things better
By
John O'Connor
Jul 06, 2012
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services may be asking you for help this summer. It might behoove you to sit up and take notice.
And you thought long-term care operators lived in silos?
By
John O'Connor
Apr 20, 2012
Our Founding Fathers were wise to separate our government’s executive, legislative and judicial branches. As we’ve seen all too often, concentrated power leads to disastrous results.
The real reason why the Supreme Court will trounce Obamacare
By
John O'Connor
Mar 30, 2012
I’m not sure why so much hand wringing is taking place over the Supreme Court’s future decision about Obamacare. For as they like to say in Chicago, the fix is in.
Why the survey system may never be fixed
By
John O'Connor
Sep 05, 2014
Given certain realities about skilled-nursing facility inspections, we should not be wondering why cheating has occurred. Rather, we should be amazed it hasn’t been more rampant.
Irony dead? Not while we have Obamacare
By
John O'Connor
Jul 15, 2013
When the Obama administration recently announced it would push back the healthcare law’s employer insurance mandate for another year, many a long-term care operator rejoiced. I’m guessing there...
A workweek tweak that’s worth the fight
By
John O'Connor
Jan 09, 2015
The new Congress hadn’t even officially started and already a major fight over stipulations for a new work-week threshold was heating up. Obamacare doesn’t have the answer this time.
The Affordable Care Act is here to stay, even if nobody seems to know what that means
By
John O'Connor
Nov 12, 2012
As late as Friday, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) indicated he still would like to upend Obamacare. But he really needs to find a less frustrating way to spend his working hours.