November 2015 36 11 Issue of McKnight's Long Term Care News
November 2015 edition of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
News
Audit program lacking: GAO
The government's Recovery Audit Contractor program needs to be improved, asserts a new report from the Government Accountability Office.
Democrats seek end to arbitration options
A group of U.S. Senators is urging an outright ban of nursing home arbitration agreement clauses in pre-admission documents.
OIG calls for crackdown
The government has renewed criticism of provider billing methods for therapy and says it will be re-evaluating the entire process.
Many choose to bypass flu shots
Long-term care workers have the lowest rate of influenza vaccine coverage, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found.
New approach to depression
Antipsychotic medications may help those over age 60 who have been diagnosed with depression, according to results of a clinical trial published in The Lancet.
CMS: Don't wait on submitting staff data
Skilled nursing facilities should start submitting electronic staffing data as soon as possible for the best results, federal officials said during a September conference call.
CCRC ratings outlook is stable
It will be smooth sailing for continuing care retirement communities for the end of this year and through 2016, according to a new report by ...
CMS showing its discomfort with arbitration arrangement
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 ...
AHCA pushing toward payment reform
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 ...
State News
State News for November 2015
WASHINGTON D.C. — Pope Francis made an unscheduled visit to The Little Sisters of the Poor during his September trip to Washington D.C.
Features
To sell or not to sell
Many smaller operators now find themselves at an uncomfortable juncture; but deciding how to make that next move can be a simple matter
Getting a leg up
Amputations and costs remain high, despite decades of research and caregiving improvements for diabetic foot ulcers; vigilance is needed, experts warn
Technology solutions shine in 4th annual McKnight's Excellence in Technology Awards
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 ...
60 Seconds with...
60 Seconds With Andrew M. Slavitt, CMS Acting Administrator
What troubles you about the latest GAO study of the nursing home Medicare PPS system?
Ask the care expert
Ask the Care Expert about... mini-mental state exams
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 ...
Resident care
Feds applaud early results from study targeting blood pressure
Federal researchers are so convinced that lower blood pressure goals could save lives, they've ended a landmark study more than a year early.
Ask the treatment expert
Ask the Treatment Expert about... nutrition and wound healing
Are there any changes related to nutrition and wound healing we should know about?
Wound care
Skin adhesives may improve negative pressure therapies
Using a skin adhesive under negative pressure wound therapy dressings can help maintain a durable seal for wounds located on hard-to-fit places of the body, ...
Hope for oral ulcers in diabetes patients
Epidermal growth factor, used to manage diabetic foot ulcers, may also be used to effectively treat oral ulcers in diabetes patients, a new study has ...
Ask the nursing expert
Ask the Nursing Expert about... becoming a DON
I am a new director of nursing, and the staff is tired due to a lot of changes in the last year. Where do I ...
Nursing
Study refutes the notion that longer nurse shifts are better
Nurses who work long shifts may experience job dissatisfaction and a risk of burnout, according to new research.
ANA: 'zero tolerance' for bullies at work
A leading long-term care nurses group is praising the American Nurses Association's new "zero tolerance" policy regarding violence and bullying in healthcare workplaces.
Ask the payment expert
Ask the Payment Expert about... SNF Final PPS rule
The SNF Final PPS rule for fiscal 2016 talks about SNF Value Based Purchasing. Can you explain it?
Payment & policy
MedPAC begins working on unified post-acute pay plan
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 ...
Providers fret bundled pilot
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 ...
Ask the legal expert
Ask the Legal Expert about... NLRB rules
Will the new National Labor Relations Board rules change the definition of manager or turn operators into co-employers with staffing agencies?
Legal Matters
State top court rules against enforcing arbitration clauses
The Kentucky Supreme Court has added a significant decision to the body of rulings concerning nursing home pre-dispute arbitration agreements.
False Claims judge rejects HCR ManorCare
A federal court has rejected HCR ManorCare's claim that alleged overbilling for therapy was an example of clinical disagreements over what constitutes a reasonable level ...
How to do it…
How to do it... hospice/palliative care training
End-of-life, hospice and palliative care are ubiquitous across practically every level of the long-term care continuum. On this page experts advise on getting your staff ...
A day in the life
A crowning achievement
Sylvia Holland didn't expect to get too far when she entered the race for Ms. Alabama Nursing Home.
I couldn't live without...
I couldn't live without... Skilled Wound Care
Pressure ulcers that develop into serious wounds can be a major problem for skilled nursing facilities. Without the proper clinical expertise, the affected resident is ...
Technology
Apple's new iPad marketed with healthcare uses in mind
With its November launch of the iPad Pro, Apple is working to make the tablet more accessible to the healthcare industry. The tablet features a ...
Opinion
Reader Poll: What non-work project are you working on in your spare time?
"One of my most favorite projects to work on when I'm not at work creating extraordinary experiences for our elders is gardening. I have perennials ...
Don't forget to look up
For long-term care providers who usually only check the sky to see if it's falling, the recent harvest supermoon lunar eclipse brought the chance for ...
Resident care
CDC guide targets antibiotic stewardship
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 ...
Company news
Trilogy acquired by two REITs in another billion-dollar deal
A joint venture between Griffin-American Healthcare REIT III and NorthStar Healthcare Income Inc. acquired senior healthcare provider Trilogy Health Services for $1.125 billion, the companies ...
Brookdale to tempt suitors
A report released by investment firm Goldman Sachs named Brookdale Senior Living among six healthcare companies that make tempting targets for buyers.
Vendor news
AOD Software, Inofile unite on interoperability advances
A partnership between AOD Software and Inofile may signal new advances in secure interoperability, company executives said.
OPRS receives grant to battle readmits
Verizon Foundation has given a $23,000 grant to Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services to expand its Home to Stay program, including to skilled nursing residents.
The big picture
NIMBY hits a new low
I first heard about the sisters of Fraternite Notre Dame last winter, when two boilers broke down at a church they were running on Chicago's ...
Editor’s desk
A few words about this guy called Larry Minnix
With the pending retirement of Larry Minnix as president and CEO of LeadingAge, I don't know whether to praise him or be fearful. I've always ...
