Federal money has not yet made a big difference in reducing hospital readmissions, report states
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 15, 2015
Federal funding might not be a critical factor in bringing down hospital readmissions rates, suggests a recently released report on a program out of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation.
Skilled nursing reimbursement has become worse, MedPAC report states
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 14, 2015
Years of Medicare reforms actually have worsened the way skilled nursing providers are reimbursed, and more sweeping changes are needed urgently, according to a new report from the Medicare Payment Advisory...
Antipsychotics increase fall risk 50% for long-term care residents and those living in community, study...
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 14, 2015
Taking an antipsychotic medication greatly increases the chances that a senior will fall or sustain a fracture, regardless of where that person is living, what drug is involved or what dose is taken, according...
Special gas kills norovirus on surfaces, researchers say
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 14, 2015
Long-term care providers might be able to use a special type of gas to rid surfaces of norovirus, recently published findings suggest.
Genesis Healthcare improperly uses background checks, federal lawsuit charges
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 13, 2015
One of the largest nursing home chains in the nation uses background checks on potential employees in a way that violates the Fair Credit Reporting Act, according to a federal lawsuit filed last week.
Providers charging even $1 per page for EHR access could be violating HIPAA, report warns
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 13, 2015
Long-term care providers that charge people to access their electronic health records might be violating federal law, according to recently released findings from the American Health Information Management...
Playing catch could help seniors avoid falls, study suggests
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 13, 2015
Older adults can reduce their risk of falling by playing catch with a weighted medicine ball, according to recently published findings.
Corrupt judges star in nursing home cases
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 13, 2015
Plaintiffs and defendants in nursing home lawsuits might not agree on much, but recent developments suggest they might want to join voices and call for an end to elected judges.
Also in the news for Jan. 13, 2015 . . .
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 13, 2015
Night shifts significantly increase black women’s diabetes risk, study finds … Nursing homes, other providers spent $94 billion on paperwork that could be avoided in streamlined healthcare...
AHCA launches campaign for Sustainable Growth Rate reforms
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 12, 2015
Today marks the launch of a comprehensive new effort from the nation’s largest long-term care provider association, aimed at encouraging constructive reforms of Medicare’s Sustainable Growth...