High-quality care for residents will NEVER exist unless we care for staff
By
Buffy Lloyd-Krejci, DrPH, CIC
Nov 30, 2022
Any employee who is satisfied in their position is more engaged and productive. The healthcare industry is no different. This is not controversial or shocking. I am not going out on a limb when I talk...
Out with the drab: Time to add personality to healthcare equipment
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
May 07, 2012
A few years ago, I broke my leg. Ouch! I was stuck in a long-leg cast for 14 weeks. Luckily, no surgery was required. It was around the holidays, so I asked to have my cast done in red and green stripes.
CMS sneaks a trick in with its treats
By
Steven Littlehale
Oct 21, 2015
With so many regulatory changes kicking in on Oct. 1, it’s no wonder providers were likely too distracted to notice the latest “trick” by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
What will it cost you to stay in the post-acute care game?
By
Steven Littlehale
Apr 22, 2015
More than just collecting data, providers need to use standardized, nationally recognized measures. Especially in this era of ACOs and alternative payment models. In the past, many individual providers...
Capturing acuity: How MDS accuracy has a critical impact on Medicare/Medicaid payment systems
By
Steven Littlehale
Apr 20, 2012
There’s a familiar saying in the industry that “If it’s not documented, then it’s not done.” But what if it is documented, but just not documented correctly?
The growing cost of compliance in long-term care
By
Michael K. Loucks
Nov 09, 2010
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will expand compliance-related regulations for skilled nursing facilities.
A Medicaid conundrum
By
Stuart H. Shapiro, M.D.
Oct 03, 2012
The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling on health care reform brings to mind Apollo 13 astronaut John Swigert’s understated line: “Houston, we have a problem.”
How to make your nursing facility RAC-ready
By
Bryan Baird
Nov 08, 2011
As skilled nursing facilities adjust to the changes to Medicare that arrived early last month, they must be ready for Recovery Audit Contractors. RACs are independent auditors for the government that are...
Problems with the CLASS Act
By
Stephen A. Moses
Oct 23, 2009
The Kaiser Family Foundation recently held a briefing on the much-touted CLASS Act. There was much praise to go around. I heartily disagreed with most of it.