Recently touted advances in lower hospital readmission rates might not be as impressive as once thought, according to academic researchers. Their review of nine years’ worth of hospital admissions found that factoring in “observation stay” patients erases most of the gains. Many analysts skeptically view a rise in observation designations as a way to improve…
Certain certified nursing aides who undertake expanded training and oversight may administer certain medications in Washington state — and they appear to be making a difference, researchers said. Investigators described the pilot study’s successes in the Annals of Long Term Care. A five-year-old law allows certified medication assistants — MA-Cs — to give skilled nursing…
When the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services addressed a gathering of nursing home owners and operators in early June in Washington, it might not have been the HHS Secretary they had once hoped for. But at least he delivered his message straight and didn’t drop any big surprises. Alex Azar gave…
Signature HealthCARE will pay $30 million to resolve allegations that it routinely placed residents at higher therapy levels to increase claims. The June settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice also resolves allegations that Kentucky-based Signature submitted forged pre-admission certifications of patient need to Tennessee’s Medicaid program. The allegations stemmed from a federal whistleblower lawsuit…
A six-year-old Medicare demonstration program that focuses on pre-approvals for power wheelchairs and other mobility devices will get new life this fall. Overall, 31 items were added to the program, according to a June 1 notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. A Government Accountability Office report released in May, which urged continuation…
Editor’s note: This is an enhanced version of the story that appeared in print. Daniel Reingold CEO RiverSpring Health Most 5-year-old boys dream of being firefighters, athletes or astronauts. Not Daniel Reingold: He wanted to be a nursing home administrator. That’s because his father, Jacob Reingold, was a long-time leader of the Hebrew Home for…
Kansas Now every state has devised a plan for Alzheimer’s Kansas became the 50th state to start establishing a plan to address the effects of Alzheimer’s on the more than 53,000 residents who have the disease, as well as the more than 151,000 who provide care and services for them, thanks to an executive order…
How can we make sure we keep our nonprofit status intact? What are the most common transgressions (inadvertent or not) which lead to loss of section 501(c) 3 tax exemption status? As you know, there are many benefits from maintaining tax-exempt 501 (c) 3 status. When the IRS receives an application for exemption, it grants…
Operators are using new techniques and tools to preserve skin integrity, but there’s still no substitute for training, assessments and dedicated staff
An administrative law judge slashed a $1 million fine against Philadelphia’s Springs at the Watermark by $974,000 in June, declaring that the nursing home took appropriate preventive measures within three days of a patient’s escape. News of the successful appeal came just days after an update of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Nursing…
