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Nursing Home

Illinois nursing home settlement could have major impact

Liza Berger March 19, 2010

A recent legal settlement regarding mentally ill nursing home residents in Illinois has the potential to transform the state's long-term system. It also likely will have a ripple effect on the field nationwide.

Vaccinating nursing home workers does not help prevent flu from spreading, study finds

March 18, 2010

Giving nursing home workers a flu vaccine is ineffective at preventing the spread of influenza among residents, a new Canadian study suggests.

Fewer nursing homes offer CNA training, report finds

March 17, 2010

Between 1997 and 2007, the number of nursing homes providing training and certification programs for certified nursing assistants (CNAs) fell by more than a third, according to a recent report.

Illinois to move 4,500 mentally ill from nursing homes to community care settings

March 16, 2010

Nearly 4,500 of Illinois' mentally ill nursing home residents soon will have the option of moving into community-based programs, according to the terms of a groundbreaking settlement between the state and the American Civil Liberties Union.

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.

International aid group takes over Haitian nursing home

March 01, 2010

Elderly survivors of the Jan. 12 Haiti earthquake have begun receiving more assistance as an international aid agency has taken over operations at a Port-Au-Prince nursing home, according to reports from the devastated area.

Illinois task force offers recommendations to reform nursing home system

February 22, 2010

The Nursing Home Safety Task Force commissioned by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn (D) released its recommendations for reforming that state's long-term care system on Friday.

Acute care hospitals more likely to use feeding tubes on dementia patients from nursing homes, study finds

February 11, 2010

Advanced dementia patients are more likely to receive feeding tubes if they are taken from nursing homes to acute care hospitals, according to a new report. This occurs despite mounting evidence that using feeding tubes on these patients is not beneficial.

Nursing home census visits underway in advance of April 1 count

February 09, 2010

Don't be surprised if a member of the U.S. Census Bureau pays a visit to your nursing home over the next few weeks.

Embattled CEO resigns over controversial closing of celebrity nursing home

February 04, 2010

After a year of conflict surrounding the shuttering of the Motion Picture & Television Fund's long-term care facility and hospital, Dr. David Tillman, CEO of the fund, has resigned his post.

Nursing homes respond to news report that one in five nursing homes rate poorly

January 29, 2010

A recent analysis by USA Today finds that one in five U.S. nursing homes consistently receive poor ratings for overall quality under the Five-Star Quality Rating System. Such news is not surprising to many in long-term care since the system predetermines that a certain percentage receive one-star ratings.

Nursing homes, others urge Congress to extend FMAP increase until mid-2011

January 25, 2010

Hundreds of groups, including the American Health Care Association, recently signed a letter asking congressional leaders to extend until at least June 30, 2011, the temporary increase in the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP).

CMS: It's all systems go for new nursing home assessment tool

January 22, 2010

Despite new political turmoil and uncertainty about the fate of healthcare reform, nursing home operators can still expect the scheduled Oct. 1 implementation of the new MDS 3.0 resident assessment tool to take place, federal regulators said Thursday.

Vitamin D reduces falls in nursing homes, review says

January 22, 2010

Nursing home residents who take vitamin D supplements are significantly less likely to fall than residents who are deficient in the vitamin, according to a new review.

Relief efforts slow to reach Haitian nursing home survivors

January 20, 2010

Eight days after a massive earthquake tore through the Haitian capital of Port-Au-Prince, many nursing home residents are still awaiting large-scale aid, according to recent news reports.

Long-term care, labor reportedly agree to compromise on healthcare reform

January 19, 2010

The White House, in the final rounds of healthcare reform negotiations, reportedly has gained a few more concessions from a number of stakeholders, including long-term care and unions.

Illinois governor proposes aggressive changes to nursing home admissions, care

January 15, 2010

In response to articles published by the Chicago Tribune exposing problems in Illinois nursing homes, Gov. Pat Quinn (D) Thursday proposed sweeping changes to the system.

Study: Nursing home residents with most to gain from Medicare Part D drug program are least likely to enroll

January 14, 2010

Many nursing home residents benefit from Medicare Part D but don't enroll in the prescription drug program, according to a recent study.

A question of word choice: 'long-term care' versus 'long-term services and supports'

Liza Berger January 14, 2010

A new phrase appears to be emerging in the lexicon of long-term care. That phrase is "long-term services and supports." (Notice the omission of the word "care.")

Many nursing home residents still take antipsychotics, studies find

January 13, 2010

Antipsychotic medication use is still widespread in nursing homes, even after the federal government issued a "black box" warning on the drugs in 2005. That is according to two new studies.

OIG: Medicare pays too much for nutrient therapy in nursing homes

January 12, 2010

Medicare's fee schedule for enteral nutrients under Medicare Part B was more than double the prices available to suppliers to nursing homes in 2006, according to a newly released report from the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the Inspector General.

Group suggests slashing nursing home spending to help fix New York's budget problems

January 06, 2010

One Albany-based group is recommending significant cuts to nursing homes and home care as a way to pare down New York's $3.2 billion deficit.

Hispanic seniors experience quality disparity in nursing home care, report finds

January 06, 2010

Hispanic seniors are much more likely to live in nursing homes of "inferior quality" than white older adults, according to a recently released report from Brown University.

Less than 20% of nursing homes have end-of-life care programs

January 05, 2010

Fewer than one in five nursing homes provide end-of-life care services, according to new research from the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging.

CMS: Spending on healthcare, including nursing home care, slows in 2008

January 05, 2010

Healthcare spending in the U.S. continued to outpace the overall economy in 2008, despite experiencing the slowest rate of growth in five decades. It climbed by 4.4% to roughly $2.3 trillion, according to a report released today.

GAO: Problems with survey methodology, guidance factor into understatement of deficiencies at nursing homes

January 04, 2010

General weaknesses in the nursing home survey process contribute to the understatement of deficiencies at nursing homes, a newly released report from the Government Accountability Office found.

Caps for Medicare Part B therapy take effect

January 04, 2010

Therapy caps are in effect after the exceptions process expired last week.

A new year brings new Medicare Part D plan options for long-term care residents

Rob Godwin January 04, 2010

Long-term care residents should reevaluate their Medicare Part D plans for the new year. A plan should correspond to a resident's individual pharmacy-related needs.

Report: Medicare cuts in Senate bill could lead to earnings losses at some nursing homes

December 14, 2009

About one in five nursing homes, hospitals and home care agencies could fall into the red as a result of Medicare cuts in the Senate healthcare reform bill, a new government study finds.

HHS finalizes FMAP matching rates for Medicaid programs

December 11, 2009

The Department of Health and Human Services on Monday finalized the adjusted federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) matching rates for state Medicaid programs for the third and fourth quarters of fiscal year 2009.