Good performance on SNF quality measures does not prevent deaths or readmissions, study finds
By
Tim Mullaney
Oct 15, 2014
A skilled nursing facility that scores well on quality measures is not necessarily reducing residents’ risk of death or readmission within 30 days of arriving from a hospital, according to findings...
CMS: Nursing home Medicare cuts helped keep healthcare spending at historic low levels
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 07, 2014
Dramatic Medicare cuts to skilled nursing facilities played a significant part in keeping healthcare spending low in 2012, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced Monday.
Empowering nurse practitioners could reduce hospitalizations from SNFs, study finds
By
Tim Mullaney
Aug 29, 2014
Granting more authority to nurse practitioners is associated with reduced hospitalization of skilled nursing facility residents, according to recently published findings.
Dallas utility company leaves nursing home without power over cold weekend
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 11, 2013
A Dallas skilled nursing facility went without power for days due to an apparent breakdown in communications with a utility company, according to local reports.
Close, specific hospital-SNF partnerships drive down readmission rates, researchers find
By
Tim Mullaney
Oct 30, 2013
A strong relationship between a hospital and a skilled nursing facility reduces the readmission rate among patients discharged to that SNF, according to recently published research.
Ground-level falls lead to high rates of SNF admission, return trips to the hospital, study finds
By
Tim Mullaney
Feb 12, 2014
Even if they do not hit the ground from a great height, elderly people who seek hospital care for a fall commonly go on to a skilled nursing facility, according to a recently published study. These seniors...
CMS: Many skilled nursing providers have poor Medicare certification and recertification practices
By
Tim Mullaney
Aug 22, 2014
The rate of improper Medicare payments to skilled nursing facilities has increased largely due to issues with certification and recertification statements, according to a recently released government memorandum....
CMS updates coding instructions for hospice site of service, principal diagnosis
By
Tim Mullaney
Sep 02, 2014
A new Medicare hospice manual update includes instructions for which principal diagnosis codes are acceptable, and clarifies which codes should be used for services in a skilled versus non-skilled nursing...
Court green-lights charges that a healthcare network underused observation stays
By
Tim Mullaney
Oct 23, 2014
A whistleblower can continue to pursue charges that a Nevada healthcare network routinely admitted people as hospital inpatients when they should have been placed in observation status, a federal appeals...
Remembering Philip Seymour Hoffman, long-term care firebrand
By
Tim Mullaney
Feb 11, 2014
When Philip Seymour Hoffman died on Feb. 2, the world lost one of its great actors — and one of the most persuasive voices to speak out about the pitfalls of the changing long-term care system in the...