While regulatory focus has pushed the use of antipsychotics lower in skilled nursing facilities recently, off-label use is rising among dementia patients living in assisted living and other community settings.
Several therapy associations Thursday called on Congress to permanently end Medicare Part B caps on physical, speech and occupational therapy by adding language to a funding measure expected next week.
Long-term care providers who supply therapy weren’t invited to the big party Thursday, but they’re hoping they’ll still have reason to celebrate soon anyway.
Joseph DeMattos Jr., President and CEO Health Facilities Association of Maryland
One of the nation’s largest senior advocacy groups is warning lawmakers of the “lasting impact” of Medicare cuts that would be potentially included in the GOP’s final tax reform bill.
A California long-term care facility is on the receiving end of a first-of-its-kind lawsuit from AARP. The seniors advocacy organization has accused the provider of “dumping” residents who require the most care and staff time.
New AARP research reveals that the use of hospital “observation” status is having a substantial impact on out-of-pocket healthcare costs and follow-up care decisions for many Medicare beneficiaries.
The historic repeal of the “doc fix” this week left about equal numbers of stakeholders relieved and disappointed. Among the most crestfallen: Therapy providers who were hoping for Congress to finally repeal Medicare Part B outpatient therapy caps.
Younger baby boomers might have particularly difficult problems paying for long-term care because they have lower rates of homeownership than previous generations, according to a report released Monday by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies and the AARP.
Minnesota routinely is named best state for long-term care, as it was last week in AARP’s 2014 scorecard. AARP held a panel discussion to unveil the rankings, and of course an official from Minnesota was on hand to share his state’s secret sauce. But the panel also featured a speaker from Mississippi, one of the lowest-ranking states. I came away thinking that Minnesota actually might not have much to teach Mississippi — and questioning what these types of state rankings accomplish.
