Special surveys on dementia care, Minimum Data Set coding will launch by mid-year, CMS announces
By
Tim Mullaney
Apr 22, 2014
Surveyors will scrutinize dementia care and Minimum Data Set coding in an upcoming pilot program to test more expansive oversight of these areas, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently announced.
AMDA calls on long-term care providers to craft sexual behavior policies
By
Tim Mullaney
Oct 29, 2013
Staff and seniors both would benefit from clearer policies regarding sexual behavior among residents in long-term care facilities, according to a prominent physicians association.
CMS budget defines nursing home quality targets, requests an additional $50 million for surveys
By
Tim Mullaney
Mar 12, 2014
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ proposed budget for fiscal year 2015 requests additional funds for survey activities and lists the agency’s targets for nursing home quality measures.
Five-Star Ratings do not predict quality of life for residents without dementia, survey finds
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 20, 2013
The government’s Five-Star system for rating nursing homes does not reflect the quality of life experienced by residents with preserved cognition, according to newly published research.
Rate of dementia has declined dramatically, but not in nursing homes, study finds
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 17, 2013
The rate of seniors developing dementia decreased by nearly a quarter over the last 20 years in England and Wales, although the percentage of nursing home residents with dementia increased, according to...
Nursing homes send too many dementia residents to the hospital in their last year of life, study finds
By
Tim Mullaney
Apr 11, 2014
Nursing homes could do a better job of keeping residents with dementia out of the hospital during their last year of life, suggests recently published findings in Health Affairs.
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...
Caregivers should prepare for some residents to ‘get worse’ during antipsychotic drawdown,...
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 26, 2013
Leaders in long-term care facilities should take steps to ensure that residents with dementia are not unnecessarily put back on antipsychotic medications, according to officials who spoke on a call with...