Here’s some good news, of sorts: St. Louis-based Ascension has finally restored access to its electronic health records, more than three weeks after a May 8 ransomware attack.
Feds moving on records access enforcement
By
David Barmak, J.D.
Feb 08, 2021
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Civil Rights continues to carefully move forward to ensure compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act’s Right...
HHS issues final rule on the ACA’s anti-discrimination provisions
By
Daniel Sternthal and Layna Cook Rush
Sep 02, 2016
The rule requires that each covered healthcare program provide notice of its compliance with the rule’s various policies and requirements, as well as how to file grievances and a complaint with OCR.
The coming crackdown: COVID-19 and beyond
By
Karen Christian
Matthew Hittle
Apr 21, 2021
For more than a year, America’s nursing homes have been besieged by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has tragically claimed the lives of more than 130,000 residents and 1,600 staff. While America’s nursing...
HHS enforces early COVID-19 infection control penalties despite ambiguities
By
Norris Cunningham
Angela Rinehart
Jan 21, 2022
Infection control penalties upheld against the facility with the first known COVID-19 outbreak reinforce need for implementation – not just policy.
Nursing homes receive an unexpected compliment
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 09, 2015
Would anyone recommend duplicating something if they didn’t feel it was worthy or successful? Of course not. It’s this reasoning that should give skilled nursing operators comfort and pride.
Azar toes company line, which isn’t half bad
By
James M. Berklan
Jun 06, 2018
When the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services addressed a gathering of nursing home owners and operators Tuesday in Washington, it might not have been the HHS Secretary everyone had...
When we talk about providing good care, what do we really mean?
By
John O'Connor
Dec 20, 2013
In case you haven’t noticed, “quality” is quite the buzzword in long-term care these days.
COVID-19 strategies: WWOT (What would Oprah think?)
By
James M. Berklan
Apr 02, 2021
I have a message for the Department of Health and Human Services: “Boy, do you have a problem.”
A possible escape from the nursing home staffing mandate?
By
James M. Berklan
May 14, 2023
There may be a silver lining to the excruciating wait providers are enduring for the White House’s nursing home staffing mandate.