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Rehab

How to prepare for your next Medicare audit

Dr. Kenneth Kei Adams August 10, 2009

The federal government is looking closely at how post-acute providers, such as skilled nursing facilities, spend Medicare dollars. SNFs should know their operations and understand real outcomes before their next audit.

Therapy dogs can transfer MRSA and C. difficile among nursing home residents, researchers say

May 08, 2009

A recent Canadian study finds that methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and C. difficile can be transferred between long-term care residents and therapy dogs, opening a new possible avenue for infection.

Baucus, Grassley propose 'bundling' of post-acute payments; nursing home groups object

April 30, 2009

Sens. Max Baucus (D-MT) and Charles Grassley (R-IA) this week released several policy ideas for revamping America's healthcare delivery system. Many of these would affect the long-term care and post-acute care fields.

Seniors urged to overcome health worries to improve mobility

April 27, 2009

Cautioning elderly people from attempting to do too much physically is actually counterproductive, researchers suggest. They say that many seniors who worry about their health or possible negative outcomes from exercising instead choose to remain inactive, therefore causing greater potential harm later in life.

Study shows simple foot exercises significantly decrease seniors' risk of falls

March 10, 2009

Seniors who perform simple ankle and foot exercises a few times per week can noticeably improve their strength and balance, according to recent research.

Bill eliminating Medicare Part B therapy caps introduced

January 08, 2009

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is drawing praise from the long-term care community for introducing a bill that would eliminate spending caps on rehabilitation services for Medicare beneficiaries.

Seniors who leave rehab with new disabilities likely to die sooner

December 09, 2008

Seniors discharged from hospital rehabilitation facilities with new activity of daily living (ADL) disabilities have a greater chance of dying within a year as those discharged without additional disabilities, according to new research from Johns Hopkins University.

Nursing home, therapy executives: Invest in information technology

October 08, 2008

Nursing home providers would be wise to pump money into information technology to create more efficient, profitable businesses, panelists asserted Tuesday at a CEO round table discussion at the annual meeting of the National Association for the Support of Long Term Care (NASL) in Nashville.

Study: More affluent ZIP codes consistently see higher rates of surgery survival among the elderly

October 01, 2008

Seniors in more impoverished areas of the country are significantly more likely to die after surgery than their wealthier neighbors, according to recent research.

Osteoarthritis-related hospitalizations soar

September 11, 2008

Hospitalizations for osteoarthritis more than doubled from 1993 to 2006, according to an analysis by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Nursing home napping leads to poor rehab recovery, research finds

September 08, 2008

Excessive daytime sleeping among seniors undergoing rehabilitation treatment actually hinders their recovery--even up to three months after discharge--according to new research.

Federal agencies at odds: Medicare payment error rate much higher than first reported

August 27, 2008

The Office of the Inspector General has issued a report claiming that the Medicare payment error rate for durable medical equipment in 2006 was significantly higher than the 7.5% rate claimed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

CMS halts 75% Rule at 60% level, disappointing nursing homes

August 11, 2008

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released a regulation Friday that reduces the 75% Rule pertaining to inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) to 60%.

News report: Illegal nursing-home evictions on the rise

August 08, 2008

Increasingly, nursing homes are illegally turning out residents to help their bottom lines, according to an analysis in The Wall Street Journal.

Nursing homes revel in CMS' decision to hold off on Medicare reductions

August 04, 2008

Last week's decision by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to halt its planned $770 million cuts in Medicare Part A payments to nursing homes for fiscal year 2009 drew loud praise from the long-term care sector.

Senate passes Medicare bill, Kennedy returns for vote

July 10, 2008

After keeping the healthcare community in a state of uncertainty for several days, the Senate late Wednesday passed the Medicare bill that continues the exceptions process for Medicare Part B therapy caps and delays other onerous healthcare regulations.

Healthcare groups use ads to lobby lawmakers on Medicare bill

July 03, 2008

Congress may be on break this week, but two industry groups launched ads spurring the Senate to take action on a Medicare bill that affects nursing home residents and other older adults when it returns from the Fourth of July recess.

CMS warns: Medicare therapy caps back in full effect soon

May 23, 2008

A process that shields most nursing home residents from therapy payment caps is set to expire at the end of next month, federal regulators told providers Thursday during a special conference call. Officials with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services also announced that new surveyor guidances covering nutrition and food handling would be issued in July or August.

En route to recovery

Brett Bakshis May 01, 2008

Rehab Road is the jewel of an Ohio facility's progressive therapy environment that helps prepare residents for their trip back home.

Skilled nursing facilities find new opportunities, new challenges with 60% rule

John Andrews April 01, 2008

Since the reduction of the so-called 75% Rule to 60%, SNFs have to work even harder to attract Part A therapy residents

Tech toys

January 30, 2008

The nation's top lawmakers are learning more about new monitoring, personal health record and brain fitness technologies for seniors during a special briefing and demonstration today.Senators from the Special Committee on Aging; the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee; and the Medical Technology Caucus are hosting the event to discuss and explore what type of support is needed to promote technological advances that can help our nation's aging population.

Weighty matters

January 30, 2008

Tanita's PW-630U wheelchair scale is designed to make it easy for residents to get on the scale and be stable. The durable, portable unit is equipped with wheels, allowing caregivers to bring the scale wherever elderly or wheelchair-bound residents are. Other features include body mass index, an integrated thermal printer, memory, recall and RS-232 output so data can be captured electronically.

Study: New cells lead to faster stroke recovery

January 30, 2008

Researchers in Korea, Canada and China have reached the same conclusion: Transplanted stem cells can help stroke victims recover faster and more fully. Researchers tested two kinds of stem cells in two different studies: human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) and bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC).

This addition's a natural fit

Ruth Grant January 15, 2008

An Ohio CCRC uses rooftop gardens and open green spaces both to be environmentally conscious and to bring a sense of nature to residents.

Women do better post-stroke, researchers say

January 04, 2008

Women have a better chance of surviving a stroke and have a tendency to live longer after a stroke than men do, according to a recent report out of Denmark.

Post-acute care demo starts in Boston

January 04, 2008

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services plans to contact healthcare providers in Boston this month about participation in a demonstration to compare post-acute rehabilitation providers.