CMS reminds providers about new survey appeals process
By
John Hall
Apr 28, 2015
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently reminded state survey agency directors that it no longer will accept appeals through the U.S. mail from providers that disagree with actions imposed...
Make it a clean sweep
By
John Hall
Aug 06, 2016
Laundry and housekeeping staff are key to survey success; they buff a provider’s record or can be the source of embarrassing, costly survey findings
Online forum will explain new home health rating system
By
John Hall
Apr 24, 2015
A special one-hour, web-based open door forum will be held May 7 to explain to providers the new set of star ratings for the Home Health Compare website, the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced.
Analysis shows Obamacare has had little effect on large employers
By
John Hall
Mar 19, 2015
The Affordable Care Act has prompted few large companies to change or begin offering health insurance plans to their employees — because most already comply with the president’s signature healthcare...
Caregivers may be focusing on ‘futile’ measures: Brown study
By
John Hall
Mar 23, 2015
New research concludes that nursing home caregivers well-versed in palliative care tend to focus less on possibly futile “aggressive” life-saving measures.
Targeting a silent killer
By
John Hall
Jun 06, 2016
Infections may be causing up to 300,000 resident deaths in facilities each year. A new federal program hopes to improve assessments and caregiving practices.
CMS posts specifics on staffing, payroll data collection for Five Star ratings
By
John Hall
Apr 15, 2015
The government has posted technical specifications showing long-term care facilities how to electronically submit staffing information based on payroll data under a new system that becomes mandatory in...
Researchers recommend attacking loneliness to lower seniors’ costs, doctor visits
By
John Hall
Apr 02, 2015
More aggressive interventions with lonely elders may significantly decrease physician visits and healthcare costs, authors of a recent study conclude.
AHCA previews new quality metric announcement
By
John Hall
May 07, 2015
The American Health Care Association is expected to announce today six new quality metrics, some of which raise the bar on nursing home staff turnover and hospital readmissions.
SNF aides rated among the unhealthiest eaters in U.S.
By
John Hall
Jun 05, 2017
Nurses and doctors may be the healthiest workers in the U.S. labor force. But no field other than firefighters and law enforcement has worse health and eating habits than healthcare aides, 40% of whom...