CMS: Nurse shortage means hospices can keep using contracted workers
By
Tim Mullaney
Oct 08, 2014
Hospices can continue to rely on contract nurses because an ongoing nurse shortage is preventing providers from meeting their staffing needs, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced in a...
Tomorrow’s nursing homes must integrate palliative care
Jan 09, 2015
Palliative care, a form of patient-centered care focused on quality of life for the seriously ill, should be the standard of practice for all elderly patients with complex illness in nursing homes.
Obama addresses rumors about healthcare reform, accuses opponents of using scare tactics
Aug 12, 2009
President Barack Obama attempted to clear up misconceptions about healthcare reform in a town hall meeting Tuesday. One rumor he addressed is that reform would create government death panels that would...
Fix Medicare funding woes ‘forever’ by eliminating subsidy for wealthy, conservative says
By
McKnight's Staff
May 15, 2012
Wealthy seniors should pay more in Medicare premiums, according to a brief from the conservative Heritage Foundation.
Social Security recipients cannot opt out of Medicare, appeals court rules
Feb 09, 2012
Senior citizens who receive Social Security benefits cannot opt out of Medicare and rely solely on private insurance, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently finalized 2014 Medicare rate updates for hospices and inpatient rehabilitation facilities, and also laid out quality metrics. Hospices will receive...
False Claims lawsuit, government report raise questions about expensive types of hospice care
By
McKnight's Staff
May 08, 2013
A government lawsuit and a memorandum from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General raise questions about the two most expensive types of hospice care.
3 tips for a strong SNF-hospice partnership
By
Tim Mullaney
Oct 28, 2014
Easier said than done. That phrase often pops into my head when I read the latest long-term care research.
This American Life … and death: Superb shows about hospice
By
Tim Mullaney
Apr 29, 2014
A few months after Pattie Burnham started working as a hospice nurse, she forgot the name of the president of the United States. That’s normal, her boss told her.
Move toward certifying electronic health records must include long-term care
By
John Derr
Oct 21, 2009
Long-term care must have have certified electronic health records to keep pace with the rest of the healthcare industry.