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LATEST NEWS

Medicare case-mix likely to become more clinically complex, NIC panel asserts

March 10, 2010

The looming Medicare payment system will encourage nursing home operators to embrace more clinically complex care, according to panelists who spoke Tuesday at the 2010 National Skilled Nursing Investment Forum. A favorable reimbursement level will push this case-mix shift, they noted.

Latest bill would extend therapy caps exceptions process through end of year

March 10, 2010

The Senate on Tuesday voted 66-34 to end debate on a package of healthcare stopgap measures. These include an extension of the therapy caps exceptions process.

Long-term care hospitals subject of Senate investigation

March 10, 2010

A recent New York Times article has sparked a Senate investigation into Select Medical Corp., one of the country's largest long-term care hospital providers.

Will Your Nursing Facility Be Ready for the New MDS 3.0 and RUG-IV or Potentially Lose Important Medicare and Medicaid Reimbursement Dollars- Join MDS-RUG expert Joel VanEaton as he gets you comfortable with these upcoming changes in his MDS 3.0-RUG IV Strategies for Success DVD and workbook program. Plus get exclusive entry into Joel's "strategies" web site with an interactive ADL Table and PPS Assessment Schedule for your use. Discover more at www.extendedcareproducts.com

Ask the nursing expert: maintaining staff levels during a blizzard

Anne Marie Barnett March 01, 2010

Anne Marie Barnett, RN Former President, Maryland NADONA/LTC

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More News

Pennsylvania seeks federal Medicaid assistance to stave off disaster

March 09, 2010

The dire financial situation many states find themselves in is embodied by efforts the state of Pennsylvania has made to secure additional Medicaid assistance funding, recent news items suggest.

Slow economy didn't stop new assisted living regulations in 2009: report

March 09, 2010

A new review of state assisted living regulations finds that the economic downturn hasn't slowed the development of new Medicaid and assisted living policy changes.

Oldest American dies at nearly 115 years of age

March 09, 2010

America's oldest citizen, 114-year-old Mary Josephine Ray, died Sunday at the Maplewood County Nursing Home in Westmoreland, NH.

Defibrillator implants often overlooked in hospice, end-of-life care

March 08, 2010

A large percentage of hospices don't account for patients with defibrillator implants, which can lead to unnecessary—and uncomfortable—shocks to patients, new research shows.

Shift long-term care payment responsibility from Medicaid to Medicare, research group suggests

March 08, 2010

In order to better coordinate care for nursing home residents who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, responsibility for long-term nursing facility services should be shifted from Medicaid to Medicare, suggests a recently released policy brief from policy research group Mathematica.

Healthcare IT could further strain Medicaid budgets, state directors say

March 08, 2010

Many state Medicaid directors worry that implementing healthcare information exchanges (HIE) will sap money from already diminishing Medicaid funds, according to speakers at the recent Health Information Management Systems Society gathering in Atlanta.

Temporary measure extends therapy caps exceptions, longer fix could be coming

March 05, 2010

Although providers are happy the Medicare Part B therapy caps exceptions process was extended through March 31 earlier this week, they're now pressing for a longer extension. A bill that could extend the exceptions process until the end of the year is currently being debated among lawmakers.

Latest big hope against Alzheimer's falls flat in clinical trials

March 05, 2010

A promising potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease has failed to produce results in the late stages of a clinical trial, according to recent reports.

Sun Healthcare reports solid fourth-quarter, annual growth

March 05, 2010

Sun Healthcare on Wednesday reported "respectable" earnings growth of 7.7% for the fourth quarter of last year and 18.3% for 2009 overall. The nation's sixth-largest skilled nursing provider said Medicare payments for higher acuity residents, as well as upticks in its affiliated hospice and therapy businesses, drove results.

AHCA, Alliance slam MedPAC for skilled nursing pay freeze recommendation; providers call for end to therapy caps

March 04, 2010

This year's recommendations from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission don't take into account the worsening situation facing state Medicaid programs, and could prove harmful to senior care if adopted by congress, long-term care groups warned Wednesday.

The Editors' Blog

What to do with unused meds

Liza Berger March 10, 2010

There is more and more talk in state legislatures of finding new ways to dispose of unused medications at healthcare facilities. This is an idea whose time has come.

Latest therapy caps ping-pong set straight

Brett Bakshis March 04, 2010

If all the recent legislative action (or inaction, as the case may be) on Capitol Hill has your head spinning, don't worry—you're not alone.

Apply outcomes measurement to therapy services

Bill Goulding March 09, 2010

Outcomes measurement is a powerful tool that can help demonstrate the quality of therapy your long-term care facility is providing. Why not give it a try?

In The Latest Issue »

Latest Jobs

QUESTION OF THE MONTH:

"What do you find most challenging in your job?"

Send your answer to Associate Editor Liza Berger at liza.berger@mcknights.com. Your answer to this question will be gathered with others and may appear in an upcoming issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News.

Please include your name, title, the name of your facility or workplace, and its location.