‘Needs Rounds’ improve palliative care, reduce hospitalizations in nursing homes: research
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Aug 12, 2024
Regular, focused meetings to discuss the specific needs of nursing home residents requiring palliative care can reduce repeated hospitalizations and improve the quality of a person’s final days, according...
Nursing homes’ high rate of Immediate Jeopardy tags warrants ‘all-hands-on-deck’ response
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Aug 03, 2024
A return to more “normal” nursing home operations in the post-pandemic world has also often meant a return to certain more serious citations, one industry expert pointed out last week.
Game planning emerges for new SNF PPS pay rule
By
Jessica R. Towhey
James M. Berklan
Aug 01, 2024
As disapproval about the 2025 skilled nursing Medicare pay rate increase continued to rise Thursday, long-term care providers and their advisors began devising coping strategies for some of the less flashy...
CMS 5-claim audits so far a ‘debacle’
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Aug 22, 2023
A new federal review process designed to lower the rate of improper government payments is sending provider staffs scurrying to justify their coding.
Washington nursing homes get 13.6 percent Medicaid boost — no strings attached
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Apr 26, 2023
Washington state lawmakers have increased Medicaid funding for nursing homes by 13.6% over the next two years, but advocates say the additional resources won’t fully cover the cost of care
LTC company bucks trend and adds skilled nursing beds
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Sep 14, 2023
While many long-term care facilities are closing skilled nursing wings or decertifying beds, one healthcare company in northeastern Pennsylvania is bucking that trend and adding to its skilled nursing...
Hybrid COVID immunity conveyed by infection, shots lasts up to 12 months: study
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Jan 20, 2023
Hybrid immunity of infection and immunization provides up to 12 months of protection against hospitalization or a severe, second COVID infection, according to a new study.
Nursing agency owes $260K for unpaid overtime
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Apr 28, 2023
A nursing staffing agency has been fined more than $260,000 for incorrectly paying workers and denying them overtime.
Rare nursing home sessions on grief, isolation seek solutions for patients, staff
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Feb 06, 2023
A rare series of structured conversations on bereavement and grief in nursing homes is revealing key insights into the emotional, physical and psychological trauma of repeated loss experienced by residents...
Nursing home job losses happened three times as fast as in other sectors: JAMA
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Nov 08, 2023
Nursing homes job losses have mounted at more than triple the rate of loss in hospitals and physicians’ offices, according to new research that looked at labor rates from 2016 to 2022.