January 2015 36 1 Issue of McKnight's Long Term Care News

Top news stories from the January 2015 issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News.

News

Signed budget fuels agencies and ACA

President Obama has signed a $1.1 trillion spending package that funds most federal agencies through September.

Pay equality endorsed again

Congress should consider site-neutral payments for post-acute providers as a way to cut federal healthcare spending, a Medicare Payment Advisory Commission official told a House ...

Payback time for auditors?

Recovery Audit Contractors that make incorrect accusations should be penalized, an influential physicians group is urging.

Bill would speed up post-acute coverage

Observation stays would count toward establishing Medicare eligibility under reforms in a recent draft bill from the House Committee on Ways and Means.

CDC expecting bad flu season

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that this year's flu vaccine might not provide robust protection against H3N2, the dominant strain circulating as ...

A prior warning for Alzheimer's

The latest Alzheimer's blood test appears to predict the disease 10 years before a clinical diagnosis could be made, researchers announced in November.

New approach to regain sight

A new type of "prosthetic retina" could restore vision to seniors with macular degeneration, researchers announced last month.

With budget out of the way, Congress eyes Medicare fix

Now that President Obama has put his signature on a $1.1 trillion spending package, long-term care providers can focus on another looming spending challenge: the ...

BLS: Nursing home injury rate still high

Nursing homes still are among the most dangerous U.S. workplaces, and there was little improvement in safety from 2012 to 2013, according to the latest ...

State News

State News for January 2015

NEW JERSEY — Lawmakers here will soon debate the merits of a bill that would require the state to pay facilities up to half of ...

Features

Investing in your people

Lenders are increasing examining staff ratios, quality metrics and stability in long-term care facilities in order to determine capital availability for operators

Back to faxing orders?

Medication order transmission standards changed from HL7 to NCPDP 10.6, but not all providers are caught up, increasing risks, time and possibility of errors

60 Seconds with...

60 seconds with ... Dale Bell

Q: You produced a famous documentary about youth culture, "Woodstock." Your new film, "Homes on the Range," focuses on long-term care. Why this subject?

Ask the care expert

Ask the care expert ... about smartphone apps

Do you know of any smartphone apps we should look at to improve the quality of life for our residents and nursing staff?

Resident care

Study examines 'elderspeak' tendencies in LTC caregivers

Certified nursing assistants are more likely to use "elderspeak," a form of patronizing speech used with seniors, if they are familiar with the resident, the ...

Half-brain theory for stroke rehab tested

A dozen top rehabilitation centers are testing whether suppressing a brain's healthy side might aid stroke recovery.

Ask the treatment expert

Ask the treatment expert ... about updated guidelines

What can you tell us about the new 2014 edition of "Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers: Clinical Practice Guidelines"?

Wound care

New skin patch helps keep diabetic foot ulcers at bay

Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have developed a drug delivered through a skin patch that not only helps diabetic foot ulcers heal faster, ...

Improving venous leg ulcer outcomes

When healthcare professionals provide clear, tailored exercise and education to adults with venous leg ulcers, the patients are more likely to engage in regular exercise ...

Ask the nursing expert

Ask the nursing expert ... about early career doubts

I just graduated from nursing school a few months ago and I'm having doubts. How did you find the area of nursing that was right ...

Nursing

Landmark ethics report calls for widespread adjustments

A team of nurses and leaders specializing in clinical ethics has issued an "unprecedented" report on the ethical issues facing the profession.

Night shift schedules threaten waistline

Employees such as nurses and CNAs who work overnight are likely burning less energy than those on a normal schedule, putting them at increased risk ...

Ask the payment expert

Ask the payment expert ... about ABNs and denial letters

Can you demystify the ABNs and denial letters process?

Payment & policy

HHS gives shooter guidance for healthcare facilities

Federal agencies have issued guidance for how healthcare providers should prepare for an active shooter emergency. The 33-page document covers threat assessment, actions to take ...

Dual-eligible future cloudy

The National Association of Medicaid Directors is asking for more guidance on the dual-eligible program and for regulators to "articulate next steps for existing financial ...

Ask the legal expert

Ask the legal expert ... about residents refusing treatment

Can documenting a resident's refusal of care-giving recommendations keep us out of being successfully sued?

Legal Matters

Court nixes arbitration deal that granddaughter signed

A granddaughter's signature on an arbitration agreement did not prevent her mother from being able to file a wrongful death lawsuit against a provider, the ...

CMS gets stronger on same-sex couples

Long-term care providers that don't recognize same-sex marriages would be endangering their ability to take part in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, the federal agency ...

Design

Design Decisions: A hospitality twist

Life Care Center of Ooltewah finds success in two centers near Chattanooga that feature elegant exteriors and comfortable amenities

How to do it…

How to do it ... Furnishing outdoors

Many facilities and communities may be overlooking an invaluable annex right under their noses — outdoor spaces that can provide a welcome and inviting place ...

A day in the life

A Day in the Life: Blankets for the brotherhood

A World War II soldier's wool coat had hung in a closet since 1948 — until the man's wife brought it to A.E. Casey Hermanson. ...

Couldn't live without

I couldn't live without . . . My InnerView

Senior care leaders interested in setting a higher bar when it comes to long-term care resident and family satisfaction should look no further than My ...

Technology

Brain training systems have mixed results, analysis finds

Computer-based "brain training" systems can help memory and thinking skills among seniors, but do not have an impact on problem solving or impulse control, according ...

ITUpdate for January 2015

» More analytics are needed in long-term care technology, according to comments in a report by Majd Alwan, M.D., executive director of the Center for ...

Opinion

Less may offer more

In an attempt to learn if I'm allergic to gluten, nuts or dairy, I might have also simultaneously stumbled onto a strategy for solving all ...

Parkinson's, psychosis

The single most important precipitant for placement of Parkinson's disease patients in a long-term care facility is psychiatric dysfunction, particularly psychosis.

Company news

LTC liability costs projected to increase by 5% nationally

Long-term care providers should prepare for higher liability costs. They are anticipated to increase by 5% on a national basis in 2015, according to a ...

Kindred to add 500 jobs in KY

Kindred Healthcare will expand its headquarters and add about 500 jobs, the company announced in December.

BusinessBriefs for January 2015

» Walker & Dunlop said a $9.9 million loan for the refinance of Vista Healthcare Center in California has closed. The center has 187 skilled ...

Vendor news

Omnicare and McKesson to extend drug distribution deal

Omnicare Inc. and McKesson Corporation have decided to extend their agreement through 2019, which will include the sourcing and distribution of branded, specialty and generic ...

Hallmark partners with LTC collaborative

The Advancing Excellence in Long-Term Care Collaborative has partnered with Hallmark Business Connections for an employee recognition program called "You Make a Difference."

CompanyBriefs for January 2015

» LifeShare Technologies released LifeShare Family, a mobile app connecting seniors with their families and caregivers. LifeShare Family allows seniors and families to share mobile ...