In 2016, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services started focused on-site surveys to address the issue of erroneous coding of schizophrenia in nursing homes. More recently, the agency began conducting...
Yo, I’ll tell you what I want, what I really, really want
By
Steven Littlehale
Oct 14, 2022
It’s a curious day when I lift a lyric from the Spice Girls to title an article. The Spice Girls’ first single, “Wannabe,” was released in 1996 and rocketed to the top of the British singles chart....
Lots to learn with new Five-Star
By
Steven Littlehale
Jul 22, 2022
On a recent flight, I sat next to an attorney whose principal focus was compliance. It turned out that we were both on our way to speak at events in the same popular Florida conference destination. She...
What the government gives, the government can take away: Why you should CARES
By
Steven Littlehale
Nov 15, 2020
“Don’t worry about it. Take the money. We’ll deal with the details later,” said no one ever — especially not the federal government.
Carnac the Magnificent psychically divines your most despised quality Measure
By
Steven Littlehale
Oct 16, 2020
Busy yourselves with the excellent suggestions provided by other top-performing SNFs around the country.
Waiver or not, here I come!
By
Steven Littlehale
Mar 28, 2020
The immediate relief I felt when the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a blanket waiver 1135 on March 13 was soon replaced with confusion and anxiety.
Resolving that tension between clinical and financial leadership
By
Steven Littlehale
Jan 27, 2020
It’s time to give purchasing agents more room to operate in long-term care. Here’s why, and now here’s a group that can help their efforts.
Sometimes you don’t need a predictive analytic when common sense will do
By
Steven Littlehale
Feb 08, 2019
Once again, we’re seeing that the importance of Five-Star outcomes has increased at a greater velocity than a cupcake out of the Magnolia Bakery.
Don’t mess with my Uber rating!
By
Steven Littlehale
Jun 21, 2017
My most recent trip to Washington, D.C., was wrapping up like most others. I was heading to Reagan Airport by way of Uber, but what happened next was not typical — and drove me to write this piece.
The Jimmo scorecard and CMS compliance update
By
Steven Littlehale
Nov 25, 2014
In some ways, 2014 has been a monumental year. But it’s not over yet, especially with regard to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services steps regarding the historic Jimmo settlement agreement signed...