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Long-Term Care

Are you ready for 'The Call'?

Laura Rossman May 22, 2012

I remember the day I got "the call." With years of experience in aging and long-term care, I found myself confused, overwhelmed and without easy access to all the right papers for my parents. Just like anybody else in that situation.

Omnicare will pay $50 million over controlled substances charges

May 14, 2012

Long-term care pharmacy provider Omnicare has agreed to pay the government $50 million to settle charges that it illegally dispensed controlled medications to long-term care residents.

House passes spending cut bill containing Medicare spending cuts

McKnight's Staff May 11, 2012

The House on Thursday passed spending cut legislation that included a 2% cut in Medicare spending.

Future looking less bright for private insurance

John O'Connor April 30, 2012

I have a simple solution for improving weather forecasts: Put insurance companies in charge. For when it comes to making accurate predictions about the future, these folks are second to none.

Experts tout private and public long-term care funding reforms in Senate hearing

McKnight's Staff April 19, 2012

As the trajectory of long-term care costs rises, experts on funding gave varying approaches on how to achieve savings at a Senate hearing.

New stomach bug on the rise in long-term care facilities, report finds

McKnight's Staff April 12, 2012

Epidemiologists are concerned about a sharp increase in nursing home outbreaks of the stomach bug known as sapovirus, a cousin of the more common norovirus, a new study reports

Number of nursing students rise, many turned away

McKnight's Staff March 27, 2012

More students than ever are trying to become nurses, but many qualified applicants are being turned away due to lack of faculty and teaching space, a nursing college group said Friday.

The inside story on long-term care

Elizabeth Newman March 20, 2012

One of the popular drumbeats in long-term care is about the importance of "telling our story." But if you go to look for a literal story, you may find yourself coming up short.

CMS clarifies Medicaid eligibility requirements under the Affordable Care Act

McKnight's Staff March 19, 2012

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced a final rule clarifying eligibility and income standards for the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.

McKnight's technology awards debut

McKnight's Staff March 19, 2012

McKnight's has partnered with American HealthTech to establish the first annual "McKnight's Excellence in Technology Awards — Connect Our World."

Affordable Care Act authorizes $3 billion to keep elderly and disabled out of nursing homes

McKnight's Staff March 02, 2012

The Affordable Care Act has freed up $3 billion in grant money available to states looking to keep elderly and disabled individuals out of long-term care institutions.

New Gary Tetz blog debuts today

James M. Berklan March 01, 2012

There is no voice in long-term care today like Gary Tetz's, which is good news for McKnight's readers. Starting today, his blog debuts at www.mcknights.com.

Providers pleased with Supreme Court Medicaid decision

February 23, 2012

The U.S. Supreme Court has not ruled against the idea of providers suing the state of California for its efforts to cut Medicaid reimbursements by 10%. The nation's highest court sent the case back to the 9th Circuit Court for further consideration.

Most states are not planning more Medicaid cuts in FY 2012

February 13, 2012

Most states do not foresee major mid-year cuts in Medicaid for fiscal year 2012, according to a Kaiser Health survey. While states authorized spending growth at a modest overall average of 2.2%, many states increased provider taxes and expanded managed care programs, according to the report.

Was it something she said? 'Speech therapist' sent to prison, fined

February 13, 2012

A North Carolina woman who posed as a licensed speech therapist in two assisted living facilities has been sentenced to 34 months in prison for committing Medicare fraud.

Long-term care stakeholders submit quality measures performance report to HHS

February 07, 2012

As required by the Affordable Care Act, the National Quality Forum convened the Measure Applications Partnership (MAP) to develop a coordinated performance measurement approach across PAC and LTC settings.

CBO: Federal healthcare spending could double by 2022

February 01, 2012

Federal spending on Medicare and Medicaid is expected to double by 2022, reaching $1.8 trillion or 7% of the entire economy, according to a new Congressional Budget Office report.

Long-term care merger and acquisition spending rose 34% in 2011; upswing to continue, report says

January 25, 2012

Long-term care saw a significant jump in merger, acquisition and takeover activity in 2011, according to a new report.

Celebrating a non-tragedy

James M. Berklan January 25, 2012

I believe there are good news stories around us all the time. Our eyes, and brains, often are just too conditioned and look past them. It's human nature. Consider this small-town long-term care story that earned scant attention, even in the local press.

Having 'the talk' with residents

Elizabeth Newman January 24, 2012

For all the innuendos and images surrounding sex in our society, it's a topic that many long-term caregivers are reluctant to bring up with residents and their family members.

States' Medicaid eligibility and enrollment remained stable in 2011, report says

January 18, 2012

Despite heavily burdened state budgets, states' Medicaid eligibility and enrollment was stable during 2011, thanks partly to the Affordable Care Act, a new report finds.

Remedi SeniorCare backs role of consultant pharmacists

January 11, 2012

On the heels of federal requirements that limit the role of consultant pharmacists, one of the nation's leading pharmacy companies defended its role. Remedi SeniorCare announced that the current relationship between the consultant pharmacist, long-term care pharmacy, and LTC facility "is and will continue to be an ethical and appropriate relationship that supports patient-centered, cost-effective care with the shared goal of achieving the best outcomes for residents."

Note the thank-you

Elizabeth Newman January 10, 2012

When it comes to "thank you," what is written is often right.

Many assisted living residents are Medicaid-dependent, government report says

December 21, 2011

Nineteen percent of U.S. assisted living facility residents receive Medicaid benefits, and at least 43% of ALFs have at least one resident that is a Medicaid recipient, a new report reveals.

State law loophole allows former criminals to work in elder care facilities

December 14, 2011

Minnesota has granted waivers for 15,000 people with criminal backgrounds seeking to work in the state's long-term care facilities, a new report finds.

Costs and lack of collaboration hinder technology adoption, CAST study finds

December 05, 2011

High expenses and poor internal collaboration often sink provider efforts to implement new technology initiatives, according to a report from LeadingAge's Center for Aging Services Technologies. Conversely, the 18 case studies in the report identified seven markers of success.

Nursing home provider groups hail Tavenner's appointment

November 29, 2011

Nursing home groups have shown strong support for the appointment of Marilyn Tavenner to replace Donald Berwick, M.D. as administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Demise of CLASS boosted awareness of long-term care, says former actuary

October 26, 2011

Although all signs point to the CLASS Act being shelved indefinitely, the program's former leader says the silver lining is the ongoing discussion about long-term care needs.

Hospitalization for Medicare patients often leads to nursing home, study finds

October 05, 2011

Medicare beneficiaries who are hospitalized for acute-care treatment, including a stroke or hip fracture, are at an "extremely high risk" for needing long-term care in a nursing home, a new study finds.