With ‘hundreds’ of facilities audited over schizophrenia, CMS pursues harsher antipsychotics stance
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jan 19, 2024
With half of nursing homes audited in a new process admitting to misdiagnosing schizophrenia patients, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is extending its drive to reduce the use of certain drugs...
Clinical briefs for Tuesday, Jan. 16
By
Kristen Fischer
Jan 16, 2024
Implantable device for Parkinson’s disease can run without battery … Deadly combo: Some erectile dysfunction, chest pain drugs … Watch patients on antipsychotics for cardiac risks … Omadacycline...
CMS must allow nursing homes to treat neuropsychiatric symptoms of Alzheimer’s
By
Sue Peschin
Chad Worz
Jan 09, 2024
As we start 2024 anew and recover from family-filled holidays, we may have been reminded that celebrations often serve double duty as an informal assessment of health and well-being — including neuropsychiatric...
Need a fresh survey strategy? CMS lays out 3
By
Kimberly Marselas
Dec 05, 2023
CMS officials have delivered an early gift to help providers like you map out where they should focus their compliance efforts — not just for 2024, but for 2025 as well.
CMS leader mum on staffing mandate, delivers ‘back to basics’ message
By
James M. Berklan
Nov 08, 2023
A CMS leader steered clear of staffing mandate talk but highlighted a nursing home workforce campaign, renewed survey priorities, discharge processes and much more Tuesday.
Antipsychotics, antibiotics linked to sudden cardiac arrest in people with type 2 diabetes
By
Kristen Fischer
Oct 05, 2023
People with type 2 diabetes have twice the risk for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) if they take some commonly prescribed antibiotic, antipsychotic or prokinetics drugs, or have low fasting blood sugar, according...
Study: Focusing on neurology — not just psychiatry — helps cut antipsychotic use in SNF residents
By
Kristen Fischer
Sep 29, 2023
A neurology-focused effort to reduce antipsychotic drugs in skilled nursing facilities lowered usage by 68% in people with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, according to a new report published...
Study: Antipsychotic, psychoactive drug use drops in older adults post-surgery in hospital settings
By
Kristen Fischer
Sep 11, 2023
Use of antipsychotic and psychoactive drugs following surgery generally fell in various settings among those experiencing postoperative delirium, according to a study published in the Journal of the American...
Antipsychotic drugs overprescribed to people with Alzheimer’s, dementia living at home
By
Kristen Fischer
Sep 07, 2023
People with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias who receive home health are likely getting prescribed antipsychotics too often, according to a new study. The research was published Wednesday in...
FDA fast-tracked dementia drug with known harms, reporter says
By
Kristen Fischer
Aug 18, 2023
An article in The BMJ is sounding the alarm that the US Food and Drug Administration fast-tracked approval for the dementia drug Rexulti (brexpiprazole) — even though trials show the drug is harmful.