Medicare penalties far exceed bonus payments to hospitals, analysis finds
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 23, 2015
Recently implemented Medicare penalties are having a greater impact on hospitals than newly available bonuses, according to a Kaiser Health News analysis.
Lengthy ‘doc fix’ hearing could mean bad news for provider payments
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 23, 2015
Long-term care providers could have good reason to worry that forthcoming Medicare reforms could cut into their reimbursements, following a two-day hearing on Capitol Hill. Lawmakers reiterated pledges...
Major problems with the pipeline of LTC workers, report states
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 22, 2015
Workers are leaving long-term care at a faster rate than they are joining the field, according to a new report from the University of California, San Francisco. And many people experience poverty after...
Providers, Senate leader focus on long-term care financing after State of the Union address
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 22, 2015
The White House and Congress should work together to ensure that older Americans have necessary financial resources, including for long-term care, provider associations and prominent lawmakers said in...
Quality improves in rural nursing homes with 1 RN per 4 nurses, study finds
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 21, 2015
When it comes to caring for long-stay residents, rural nursing homes do better if they hit a staffing ratio of one full-time registered nurse for every four full-time nursing employees, according to recently...
Hatch: Doc fix is a ‘must pass’
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 21, 2015
Fixing Medicare’s broken physician payment system is a “must pass” order of business, a key Senate leader said on Tuesday.
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...
Prolonging mealtimes could lead to health complications for LTC residents, study suggests
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 20, 2015
Long-term care providers should be aware that residents’ chewing and swallowing ability might be worse at the end of a prolonged meal, increasing the risk of aspiration pneumonia and other conditions,...
‘Ghost Boy’: A terrifying story to inspire LTC caregivers
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 20, 2015
Anyone who doubts the enormous power wielded by frontline caregivers should listen to the premiere episode of “Invisibilia,” a new radio show and podcast.
Antipsychotics increase fall risk 50% for long-term care residents and those living in community, study...
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 14, 2015
Taking an antipsychotic medication greatly increases the chances that a senior will fall or sustain a fracture, regardless of where that person is living, what drug is involved or what dose is taken, according...