Technology solutions shine in 4th annual McKnight’s Excellence in Technology Awards
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Nov 05, 2015
The success stories submitted to the 4th annual McKnight’s Excellence in Technology Awards competition showcased how savvy providers put tech to use in meeting the needs of their residents and staff.
Ask the Care Expert about… mini-mental state exams
By
Sherrie Dornberger
Nov 05, 2015
We have a dementia unit and currently use a mini-mental state examination on our admissions. We have heard the mini-mental may not be the best test — do you know of any other that may be better?
CDC guide targets antibiotic stewardship
By
Kimberly Marselas
Nov 05, 2015
Skilled nursing facilities need more help from experts and their own staffs to become better stewards of antibiotic use, according to a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention resource guide.
Feds applaud early results from study targeting blood pressure
By
Kimberly Marselas
Nov 05, 2015
Federal researchers are so convinced that lower blood pressure goals could save lives, they’ve ended a landmark study more than a year early.
Providers fret bundled pilot
By
John Hall
Nov 05, 2015
Provider advocates generally accept a proposal to bundle Medicare payments for one of the most common orthopedic procedures, but many believe the plan is being rushed while serious concerns about issues...
MedPAC begins working on unified post-acute pay plan
By
John Hall
Nov 05, 2015
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission is devising a plan that would pay skilled nursing facilities, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, home health agencies and long-term care hospitals under a unified...
Ask the Payment Expert about… SNF Final PPS rule
By
Patricia Boyer
Nov 05, 2015
The SNF Final PPS rule for fiscal 2016 talks about SNF Value Based Purchasing. Can you explain it?
AHCA pushing toward payment reform
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Nov 05, 2015
The American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living will soon face their “most formidable challenge of all,” in delivering a proposal for payment reform to Congress,...
CMS showing its discomfort with arbitration arrangement
By
Elizabeth Newman
Nov 05, 2015
Residents should fully understand binding arbitration agreements, and know that they have the option to contact federal, state or local healthcare officials about them, according to a proposed rule from...
60 Seconds With Andrew M. Slavitt, CMS Acting Administrator
Nov 05, 2015
What troubles you about the latest GAO study of the nursing home Medicare PPS system?