It's April. Do you know where your year has gone? That's not entirely a rhetorical question because even if your fiscal year isn't nearing an end, you could have reason to be feeling a squeeze.

Nowadays there are all too many writers making the story about themselves. This is a violation of a traditional journalism tenet that I like to adhere to. But this time I can't help it.

Nursing home operators could face fines up to $100,000 - 10 times the current maximum - and would have to provide more ownership, expenditure and staffing information under a new bill introduced in the U.S. Senate.

All nursing homes on a federal watch list for poor performing facilities now will be publicized on a government Web site, Bush administration officials have decided.

If you haven't noticed by now, the ballyhooed "75% Rule" has been laid to rest. Long live the "60% Rule"!

The year-end scramble for Medicare and Medicaid dollars ended with a bang — and the usual whimpers from various provider interests. There were winners on one side, losers on the other. And then there were those who won some but weren't totally satisfied — in a big group in the middle.And with a new year starting, the funding game begins again.

Federal regulars set off a maelstrom last month by releasing part — but not all — of a list of 128 of the nation's worst performing nursing homes.

A handful of U.S. senators are leading a push to release all names on a federal "worst performing" nursing homes list.

Providers were bracing for the worst at press time, as various U.S. and state lawmakers raced into hearings to probe nursing home quality and ownership.

Providers should stay on guard, even if they haven't yet felt the heat from 18-month-old activity and psychosocial surveyor guidance.