American Health Care Association

Looking to open eyes about 'observations'

Looking to open eyes about 'observations' By

Bully for provider groups pulling out the stops to draw attention to the ludicrous mishandling of "observation stay" designations by many hospitals. One prong of the plan is to have providers supply anecdotes about individuals hurt financially and emotionally by the practice.

Deadline for HITECH disclosure rule is now 'fluid,' federal official says

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A controversial "accounting of disclosures" provision of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act will probably not be finalized before the scheduled Jan. 1, 2014, deadline for compliance, according to a senior Department of Health and Human Services official.

Kohl painkiller bill reappears in waning days of Senate term; AHCA voices objections

Kohl painkiller bill reappears in waning days of Senate term; AHCA voices objections By

A bill meant to provide relief for nursing home residents who need painkillers would create the possibility of huge penalties for healthcare practitioners and long-term care facilities, a top lobbyist warned yesterday.

Senate Finance Chairman accuses long-term care providers of 'gaming' dual-eligible reimbursements

Senate Finance Chairman accuses long-term care providers of 'gaming' dual-eligible reimbursements   By

Long-term care providers struck back quickly late last week after the chairman of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee accused them of "gaming" the reimbursement system during a hearing on caring for individuals eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid.

Regardless of fiscal cliff outcome, funding cuts loom

Regardless of fiscal cliff outcome, funding cuts loom By

We're hearing much out of Washington these days about the looming fiscal cliff. Assessments about its impact run the gamut from no big deal to very big deal. As is usually the case, the truth is probably somewhere in between

Who is ready for 2016?

Who is ready for 2016? By

I imagine, no matter their political affiliation, there's one thing that vendors in long-term care and politician operatives can agree on: This fall has felt like a marathon. Only the well energized survive, as they either jumped to swing states, set up conference booth after conference booth, or, in the case of the American Health Care Association conference in Florida and LeadingAge Convention in Colorado, did both.

Streamlined order handling system makes debut at AHCA convention

Streamlined order handling system makes debut at AHCA convention

American HealthTech unveiled a redesigned order management system at the American Health Care Association show in Tampa, FL.

Assisted living group launches quality improvement initiative

Assisted living group launches quality improvement initiative By

A new quality initiative program unveiled Wednesday targets off-label use of antipsychotics, hospital readmissions and staff turnover in assisted living communities.

Nursing home group heightens lobbying for Medicaid funding before November elections

Nursing home group heightens lobbying for Medicaid funding before November elections By

Preserving Medicaid funding remains the top priority for the largest nursing home association in the United States as Congress heads back into session this week.

Provider group pushes for observation stay loophole fix

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A long-term care group is urging regulators to continue work on fixing the "observation stay loophole" that makes it harder for Medicare beneficiaries to get nursing home care.

AHCA incorporates new rehospitalization measuring tool into Quality Initiative

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The American Health Care Association announced Thursday that it will employ a new, proprietary methodology for calculating case-mix adjusted hospitalization metrics for its members in its national Quality Initiative.

OIG should streamline Medicare's self-disclosed overpayment protocol, provider group says

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Federal officials need to provide clearer guidance and offer a more streamlined protocol for providers willing to self-disclose Medicare overpayments, a leading long-term care group says.

Golden Living and Genesis facilities take top quality awards

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Two nursing homes in Wisconsin and Rhode Island have taken top honors in a national quality awards competition.

Lawmaker touts legislation fighting 'observation stay' Medicare loophole

Lawmaker touts legislation fighting 'observation stay' Medicare loophole By

Proponents of a bill to cut out the "observation stay" Medicare loophole got a boost from a House of Representatives member Wednesday.

Salaries for nursing home administrator and nursing directors rise modestly in 2012, survey shows

Salaries for nursing home administrator and nursing directors rise modestly in 2012, survey shows By

Key skilled nursing facility managers saw small salary increases in 2012, according to new figures released Tuesday. The raises signal slow, steady economic improvement, say organizers of the survey, the largest of its kind.

Half a pound of long-term care funding cure?

Half a pound of long-term care funding cure? By

There's a great Randy Travis song that includes the line, "Since my phone still ain't ringing, I assume it still ain't you." How fitting for long-term care this week.

Half a pound of long-term care funding cure?

Half a pound of long-term care funding cure? By

There's a great Randy Travis song that includes the line, "Since my phone still ain't ringing, I assume it still ain't you." How fitting for long-term care this week.

Long-term care industry promoted at Democratic governors conference

Long-term care industry promoted at Democratic governors conference By

A top nursing home advocate touted the sector's job-generating successes and stressed the need to protect federal funding sources at a recent policy conference for Democratic governors.

CMS official responds to criticism of pilot programs for dual eligibles

CMS official responds to criticism of pilot programs for dual eligibles By

A federal official defended government demonstration programs that coordinate care for dually eligible Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries in a Senate hearing Wednesday.

Letter: Provider group accuses CMS of using Medicare audits for 'stealth policymaking' purposes

Letter: Provider group accuses CMS of using Medicare audits for 'stealth policymaking' purposes By

A provider group is taking the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to task for improperly using Medicare audits as a means of curtailing high-intensity therapy in skilled nursing facilities.

American HealthTech announces streamlined connectivity with LTC Trend Tracker

American HealthTech and the American Health Care Association announced a partnership that will provide automated connectivity for mutual clients and members. With a touch of a button, clients using AHT's software can export clinical data into AHCA's LTC Trend Tracker. Teresa Chase, President and CEO of AHT, said: " When you couple outcomes reporting with LTC Trend Tracker, the power of data increases exponentially — as providers can compare and contrast competitive advantages among peers to hospitals. Armed with powerful internal and external peer review data, our mutual clients and members are well prepared for the outcomes-driven world of healthcare."

Senator presses U.S. Attorney General on nursing home painkiller legislation

Senator presses U.S. Attorney General on nursing home painkiller legislation  By

Lawmakers pushed U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder to work more expediently with the Drug Enforcement Agency to resolve delays in the dispensing of painkillers in nursing homes.

Medicaid spending now represents biggest portion of total state spending, study finds

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Medicaid spending increased 20% in fiscal 2012, representing the single largest portion of total state spending. This, combined with federally mandated Medicaid eligibility expansions, puts state budgets in a tight spot, a new national study reveals.

Provider group hammers Congressional leadership on lowering provider tax threshold

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The American Health Care Association continued its assault Wednesday on a Republican proposal to use Medicaid provider assessments to offset subsidies to the Stafford student loan program.

The future of antipsychotics

The future of antipsychotics   By

It turns out McKnight's Editor Jim Berklan is psychic, or at least a well-read prognosticator of long-term care.

Nursing home quality scores are on the rise, federal data shows

Nursing home quality scores are on the rise, federal data shows By

The quality of care in U.S. nursing homes is improving, according to newly released federal health data. In evaluating the scores of 15,000 skilled nursing facilities across the country, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services found that the proportion of 4- and 5-Star centers has increased 4% and 4.1%, respectively.

With tax revenue up, provider group urges states to reverse Medicaid cuts

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A top nursing home group is hoping that a jump in state tax collections can help convince lawmakers to restore states' Medicaid budgets.

Analysts disagree whether death of healthcare reform could mean recoupment of provider funding

Analysts disagree whether death of healthcare reform could mean recoupment of provider funding By

Healthcare analysts are proposing that Medicare providers, including nursing homes, could recoup millions of dollars if the Supreme Court strikes down the Affordable Care Act.

Study highlights cost-effectiveness of home healthcare as post-acute setting

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When home healthcare is used as the first post-acute care setting after a hospital stay, it was found to be the most cost-effective care setting, new research suggests.

Nursing home resident advocates applaud CMS antipsychotic initiative

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Nursing home resident advocates applauded federal action on the issue of using antipsychotics to treat elderly nursing home residents with dementia.

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