Yearly flu vaccination does not affect SNF resident mortality in large Medicare study
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 02, 2021
A study of 26 million Medicare recipients has linked regular flu shots with lowered mortality — except in skilled nursing facility residents. The results suggest that vaccines alone are not enough to...
Walters leads Friendship
Mar 19, 2015
Jessica Walters, MHA, LNHA, is the new administrator of Friendship Health and Rehab Center, a 373-bed skilled nursing facility in Roanoke, VA.
Senate bill would revamp 2-midnight rule for hospital inpatient admissions
By
Tim Mullaney
Mar 07, 2014
Providers’ complaints about the so-called “two-midnight rule” for determining hospital inpatient status have led to a new bipartisan bill in the U.S. Senate, which would create less rigid...
Design Decisions: Hitting the right notes
By
Dave Surico
Feb 01, 2014
Company’s first big construction project overcomes challenges and plays on Nashville region’s tastes for music, art and local attractions
Dedicated observation stay units could protect nursing home benefits, save hospitals $1 billion annually,...
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 06, 2013
Specialized hospital units for patients under observation status could dramatically reduce the number of seniors forced to pay out-of-pocket for skilled nursing care, according to findings in the current...
ACA put the brakes on spending across the care continuum, White House economists say
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 21, 2013
Spending on healthcare, including skilled nursing care, has grown at a historically slow rate in the last three years, according to a new analysis from the Council of Economic Advisers. The group, which...
SNF Medicare Part A appeals increase, success rate holds steady: OIG report
By
Tim Mullaney
Oct 07, 2013
Skilled nursing facilities have been filing more appeals related to Medicare Part A claim determinations since 2008, and the proportion of successful appeals has remained largely steady, according to a...
House lawmakers call on CMS to delay rule limiting observation stays
By
Tim Mullaney
Sep 26, 2013
More than 100 members of the House of Representatives have called on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to delay implementation of a new rule intended to limit the number of hospital patients...
Fewer Medicare Advantage plans in 2014, analysis finds
By
Elizabeth Newman
Sep 25, 2013
There will be fewer Medicare Advantage plans in 2014, according to a new analysis. The number of plans will drop to 2,522, which is around a 5% decrease, according to Avalere Health. Medicare Advantage...
Kill inpatient rule, use functional criteria to determine Medicare coverage for skilled nursing, leading...
By
Tim Mullaney
Sep 17, 2013
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should consider providing Medicare skilled nursing coverage for a person with certain functional limitations, regardless of whether that person has been hospitalized,...