A small Belgian study of people with dementia on low-dose antipsychotics found that abrupt stoppage of the medication, rather than tapering, is a possible solution. Eighty-five percent of 40 patients who...
Ask the payment expert … about changes related to Jimmo v. Sebelius
By
Patricia Boyer
Jan 01, 2014
How come there are so many Medicare A denials when Jimmo v. Sebelius stated we could keep residents on Medicare A even if they are not improving?
60 seconds with … Michael A. Ross, M.D.
By
. .
Jan 01, 2014
Q: You co-authored a study on how specialized hospital observation stay units could increase transparency and allow quicker inpatient admission decisions. This would help people meet the three-midnight...
Federal court upholds $10k fine for suicide
By
James M. Berklan
Jan 01, 2014
A $10,000 fine levied against a skilled nursing facility that allowed a suicidal resident to leave the building and then kill himself will stand, a federal appeals court has ruled.
Providers take the long view on budget, doc pay formula
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 01, 2014
Long-term care provider associations focused on the big picture and counted blessings in response to legislative action in the last Congressional session of 2013.
Drugs will kill CRE colonies
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 01, 2014
Particular antibiotics are effective in eliminating colonies of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in asymptomatic carriers of the deadly bacteria, according to clinical research.
Big predictor for Alzheimer’s
By
James M. Berklan
Jan 01, 2014
Researchers have found a way to predict with 90% accuracy which mild cognitive impairment sufferers would develop Alzheimer’s disease within two years.
OIG probes hospitalizations
By
Elizabeth Newman
Jan 01, 2014
A fourth of the 3.3 million Medicare beneficiaries who lived in a nursing home in 2011 were hospitalized for at least one day. This came at a cost of $14.3 billion, according to a Nov. 18 report from the...
Bill eases 3-day rule for many operators
By
John O'Connor
Jan 01, 2014
Above-average skilled nursing facilities may become exempted from Medicare’s prior hospitalization requirement, per legislation from Rep. Jim Renacci (R-OH).
Proposal for full LTC coverage
By
Elizabeth Newman
Jan 01, 2014
Congressional lawmakers have introduced a bill to launch a single-payer healthcare system that would include universal long-term care coverage.