State News for April 2017
An Ottawa, IL, nursing home was “hit hard” by a tornado Feb. 28, but residents and employees responded well and were uninjured.
Print Issue: April 01, 2017
Providers told: take high road
The leader of the second-largest nursing home association in America called on members in March to act passionately but politely when lobbying members of Congress.
Coordination helps cut hospitalizations
Care coordination models that use medication management, end-of-life planning and nurse involvement may help reduce hospitalizations and Medicare costs among skilled nursing residents, a recent study shows.
A farewell to Medicaid?
If there is one sector that proves the adage about incentives driving behavior, it’s skilled care.
Study: Activity engagement helps SNF residents flourish
Residents who regularly participate in a variety of activities are more likely to thrive in a skilled nursing setting than residents whose activities are limited, a recent study shows.
Upcoding case leads to $347M judgment
Florida-based skilled nursing chain Consulate Health Care was hit with a $347 million judgment in early March after a jury found that it routinely inflated its Medicare and Medicaid claims.
Ask the Care Expert about … urinary tract infections
I hear there is a change with urinary tract infections and that there needs to be a bunch of criteria now before we can say someone has a UTI. Is this true?
SNF case may shift Supreme Court’s stance on arbitration
The U.S. Supreme Court may change course away from recent rulings that favored arbitration agreements in a case involving nursing home residents, according to one expert.
ACO reduces medical costs
An examination of Part D drug spending during the first year of an accountable care organization discovered that medical costs went down and prescription drug spending did not rise.
Ask the Legal Expert about … mandatory pre-dispute arbitration clauses
Is it legal to insert or attach pre-dispute mandatory and binding arbitration clauses in our resident contracts?
