McKnight's Long-Term Care News articles from February 2005

McKnight's Long-Term Care News archives from February 2005

Bush's agenda irks own party.
February 1, 2005... Congressional Republicans are growing increasingly concerned with parts of President Bush's agenda as he kicks off his second term. Issues with long-term care implications are Medicare prescription drug implementation, Social Security personal...

Providers seeing red over drug plan detail.
February 1, 2005... Nursing home operators' anxieties were at peak levels at press time over mandated prescription drug coverage changes for more than 1 million residents. Providers, their pharmacists and various government officials had been expecting to see...

Costs for LTC are up by 13%.
February 1, 2005... The average cost of a private nursing home room jumped 13% in 2004, a new survey finds. The national average was $179 per day, or $65,200 annually. That's up from $158 per day in 2003, according to Genworth Financial, a Richmond, VA-based...

Chiefs advise on fire safety.(News)
February 1, 2005... The International Association of Fire Chiefs has released its long-awaited report on improving fire safety in nursing homes and other healthcare facilities. Among other information, the report offers recommendations on 12 fire safety...

Study: unsafe drugs to aged.(News)
February 1, 2005... Approximately 70% of physicians have prescribed potentially harmful medications for their elderly patients, according to a new study by Georgia researchers. As a result, investigators are encouraging physicians to re-evaluate the drugs...

MedPAC's pay freeze gets chilly reception.(News)
February 1, 2005... A Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's vote to freeze nursing home inflation payment adjustments drew a quick and pointed response. Provider groups countered that inflation adjustments are needed to cover legitimate cost increases. The...

Smith to head Aging committee.(News)
February 1, 2005... The Senate Republican Conference confirmed Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) as chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging on Jan. 5. Smith said he plans to pursue an agenda focused on protecting seniors against fraud and abuse, and...

President Bush.(At deadline)
February 1, 2005... President Bush's pick to head the Department of Health and Human Services said he would not rule out Medicaid budget cuts. Mike Leavitt made the comment during his Senate nomination hearing in late January.

A new report.(At deadline)
February 1, 2005... A new report found that people with dementia may experience weight loss before the onset of symptoms. Published study results suggest that weight change should be monitored at and after diagnosis.

Medicare will expand coverage for surgically implanted heart-shocking devices.(At deadline)
February 1, 2005... Medicare will expand coverage for surgically implanted heart-shocking devices for people with weakened hearts. The move is expected to cost an estimated $3 billion.

An employee of a retirement home in Alexandria, Va. was arrested.(At deadline)
February 1, 2005... An employee of a retirement home in Alexandria, Va. was arrested after wounding seven people, including four residents, with a knife at the skilled nursing wing of the home in January. The suspect reportedly had been mumbling about not being...

When people between the ages of 55 and 85 nap from 30 to 120 minutes in the afternoon.(At deadline)
February 1, 2005... When people between the ages of 55 and 85 nap from 30 to 120 minutes in the afternoon, they do better on mental ability tests and can still maintain normal nighttime sleep habits, according to a researcher from Weill Cornell Medical College.

60 seconds with ... Eric Carlson.(News)
February 1, 2005... Attorney, National Senior Citizens Law Center Q: Why are you helping residents who have filed suit to stop the federal government's new class of feeding assistants? A: The feeding assistant regulation cannot be reconciled with the...

Seniors housing project analyzes occupancy data.(News)
February 1, 2005... The average length of stay for skilled nursing residents in continuing care retirement communities was about six months less than for residents in assisted living beds in 2003, according to a new report. In addition, the gap between...

State cutbacks seen in spending totals.(News)
February 1, 2005... National healthcare spending rose 7.7% to $1.7 trillion in 2003. But Medicare and Medicaid outlays for nursing home services rose only 1%, according to a new government report. The nursing home reimbursement slowdown was largely the result...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released a revised policy on the survey and enforcement of nursing facilities deemed to be "Special Focus Facilities.".(Regulatory Update)
February 1, 2005... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released a revised policy on the survey and enforcement of nursing facilities deemed to be "Special Focus Facilities." It plans to increase the number of these underperforming facilities by about...

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) recommends that Medicare's physical therapy referral rule remain in place.(Regulatory Update)
February 1, 2005... The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) recommends that Medicare's physical therapy referral rule remain in place. Removing the current requirement--that a physician refer beneficiaries for physical therapy--could jeopardize...

Reps. Cliff Stearns (R-FL) and Ted Strickland (D-OH) introduced a bill that would allow students in the allied health field.(Bill Watch)
February 1, 2005... Reps. Cliff Stearns (R-FL) and Ted Strickland (D-OH) introduced a bill that would allow students in the allied health field to receive tuition scholarships in exchange for their service at a healthcare facility with a critical shortage of...

Rep. John Larson (D-CT) is expected to reintroduce legislation this Congress.(Bill Watch)
February 1, 2005... Rep. John Larson (D-CT) is expected to reintroduce legislation this Congress that would ensure that every nursing home in the country is equipped or retrofitted with automatic fire sprinkler systems.

What can you do with a resident who is distrustful of nurses of another race and therefore won't cooperate?(Ask The Care Expert)
February 1, 2005... I would begin by placing the resident in the same room with another resident of the same ethnic background who has a trusting relationship with the caregiving staff in the home, regardless of ethnicity. I would arrange for caregivers of the...

What are some of your key tips for mentors of young nurses?(Ask The Care Expert)
February 1, 2005... Anxiety is the most common feeling of a new employee. Mentors should let new workers know to whom they can go to ask questions. They should also help them learn what is expected of them performance-wise. Beyond teaching the policies and...

Active lifestyles linked to stronger mental function.(Resident Care)
February 1, 2005... Elderly people who stay physically, active are less likely, to age mentally than those adopting more sedentary lifestyles, researchers say. These findings offer another reason why it's good for residents to remain active, even as their...

Training helps residents avoid falling.(Resident Care)
February 1, 2005... Residents with Parkinson's often suffer from postural instability, which can lead to falls or even fear of walking. But repetitive training can help, investigators have found. They studied 14 patients who underwent a baseline-training...

Residents who received treatment from an implanted pacemaker to regulate their bladders experienced less depression and better quality of life, according to a recent study in the journal Urology.(Caregiving Update)
February 1, 2005... Residents who received treatment from an implanted pacemaker to regulate their bladders experienced less depression and better quality of life, according to a recent study in the journal Urology. These residents had improved scores and quality...

The pigment that gives curry spice its yellow hue may also help break up the plaques that mark the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients.(Caregiving Update)
February 1, 2005... The pigment that gives curry spice its yellow hue may also help break up the plaques that mark the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients. In experiments, curcumin helped reduce deposits of beta-amyloid proteins in the brains of elderly lab...

Endoscopic sinus surgery is a reasonable way to relieve the pain and pressure of sinusitis in older people who can't be helped by drugs alone, according to a Medical College of Georgia study.(Caregiving Update)
February 1, 2005... Endoscopic sinus surgery is a reasonable way to relieve the pain and pressure of sinusitis in older people who can't be helped by drugs alone, according to a Medical College of Georgia study. Investigators followed 56 people older than 60 who...

What can my staff do to avoid back injuries since we don't, and won't, have, mechanical lifts everywhere we should?(Ask The Nursing Expert)
February 1, 2005... First of all, the damage caused from lifting injuries far outweigh the cost of the new lifts! Once you have assessed each resident in your facility for the help needed for safe transfers, make sure that staff is in serviced in risk...

When do you think that nursing home caregivers overuse gloves?(Ask The Nursing Expert)
February 1, 2005... I have seen gloves being worn when making a clean bed without a patient in it. I have stopped staff walking up and down the hall with gloves on their hands. I often ask the employee why they have their gloves on, just to better understand...

New nursing bill would shift unused work visas.(Nursing)
February 1, 2005... A House measure could help increase the flow of nurses into long-term care facilities. The bill was introduced last mouth by Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA). Specifically, the bill would allow U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to reassign...

Nurses get highest marks in California.(Nursing)
February 1, 2005... Where do long-term care nurses do the best job? California. That's the conclusion from a new study by Health Grades. Six of the 10 best U.S. cities for nursing services are in California, while none of the 10 worst cities is in the Golden...

The FDA has approved a drug that offers a new way of fighting severe pain--an option for residents who no longer benefit from morphine and other pain medications.(Medication Update)
February 1, 2005... The FDA has approved a drug that offers a new way of fighting severe pain--an option for residents who no longer benefit from morphine and other pain medications. The drug is part of a new class known as N-type calcium channel blockers. It will...

Researchers have found evidence that reducing inflammation in coronary arteries decreases the risk of heart attacks, as well as cholesterol levels--a finding that offers a new approach to preventing heart disease.(Medication Update)
February 1, 2005... Researchers have found evidence that reducing inflammation in coronary arteries decreases the risk of heart attacks, as well as cholesterol levels--a finding that offers a new approach to preventing heart disease. Two new studies showed that...

Conversely, statins may have a negative effect on brain function, according to results of a new study in the American Journal of Medicine.(Medication Update)
February 1, 2005... Conversely, statins may have a negative effect on brain function, according to results of a new study in the American Journal of Medicine. While the effects of the statin drug called simvastatin on cognitive function were "too small" to imply...

Why does my facility have all RUG III days under the Rehab RUGs categories?(Ask The Payment Expert)
February 1, 2005... Like many facilities, your facility may be bringing in all patients under rehab services. Although this is appropriate for most residents (the national average is about 76%), you should also be considering other coverage criteria on admission....

I recently heard that quality of services is becoming more integrated into the reimbursement system. How?(Ask The Payment Expert)
February 1, 2005... At the 2004 American Health Care Association conference, there was discussion of more focus on the quality indicators in the survey process. Facilities providing better quality of care would be surveyed differently from those with deficient...

Governors caution Bush: don't shift Medicaid load.(Payment & Policy)
February 1, 2005... As the White House seeks ways to slash federal spending, governors are increasingly concerned they will inherit larger Medicaid service and cost requirements. In a recent letter, they cautioned President Bush not to saddle states with...

CMS looking for feedback.(Payment & Policy)
February 1, 2005... Concerned about how well Medicare claims are processed and paid? The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services wants to know. The agency recently launched a pilot survey to measure satisfaction, and will follow up with a more extensive inquiry...

Go figure.(Payment & Policy)
February 1, 2005... Go figure 1 HealthSouth Corp. agreed to pay $1 million to resolve allegations of Medicare fraud involving outpatient physical therapy services at its skilled nursing facilities. 9.3 Medicare...

NeighborCare Inc.(Business Briefs)
February 1, 2005... NeighborCare Inc., a pharmacy provider to long-term care and skilled nursing facilities, has completed its acquisition of UniScripts Inc. of Greensburg, MD, which operates out of a location in North Huntingdon, PA. A long term care pharmacy...

Kindred Healthcare Inc.(Business Briefs)
February 1, 2005... Kindred Healthcare Inc. announced it had acquired two "non strategic" hospitals for approximately $21.6 million in cash. It plans to dispose of these facilities, which formerly leased from Ventas Inc., as soon as possible. Kindred said these...

Sunrise Senior Living Inc.(Business Briefs)
February 1, 2005... Sunrise Senior Living Inc. declared it entered into an agreement for the purchase of seven Canadian assisted living facilities, five in Ontario and two in British Columbia. All of the properties are currently managed by Sunrise. The purchase...

Chief financial officers.(Business Briefs)
February 1, 2005... Chief financial officers at U.S. multi-facility long term care companies make an average salary of $180,270, and they also receive an average bonus of $63,433, according to results of the "2004-2005 Multi Facility Corporate Compensation...

Companies fear financial backlash from Medicare.(Companies)
February 1, 2005... Medicare cuts being considered by federal officials would cause serious problems for providers if they are carried out, a top nursing home executive warns. He fortities his case with the help of a new report that analyzes reimbursement rates....

LTC leads M&A deal scorecard.(Companies)
February 1, 2005... The long-term care industry's 25 deals led the healthcare services segment with the most mergers and acquisitions for the fourth quarter of 2004. This, despite a 4% dip in deal volume from the previous quarter, according to Irving Levin...

Dr. David R. Gifford.(Good month)
February 1, 2005... Dr. David R. Gifford: One of the foremost physician authorities in the federal government's Nursing Home Quality Initiative, has been nominated to become the director of Rhode Island's Health Department.

Sen. Gordon Smith.(Good month)
February 1, 2005... Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR): He was confirmed as the chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging. The panel deals with many issues pertinent to long-term care providers as part of its mission.

Sued Florida operators.(Good month)
February 1, 2005... Sued Florida operators: The state's Supreme Court says that some operators cannot be sued for alleged abuse and neglect under the state's nursing home residents' bill of rights. That's good news for those involved with 600 to 1,500 cases exempt...

The nation's governors.(Bad month)
February 1, 2005... The nation's governors: They felt compelled to warn President Bush not to cost shift Medicaid onto the states. They fear that the White House is about to submit a budget that will relieve the federal government of responsibilities here.

Providers stung by MedPAC's.(Bad month)
February 1, 2005... Providers stung by MedPAC's stingy reimbursement recommendations: The good news is Congress doesn't always follow the advisory panel's suggestions.

323,000 Tennessee residents on Medicaid.(Bad month)
February 1, 2005... 323,000 Tennessee residents on Medicaid: Gov. Phil Bredesen (D) announced he would remove them from the state's Medicaid rolls, in an effort to cut state outlays by $1.7 billion. He also will change benefits for thousands more under the...

Firms offering IT products generally received favorable reviews.(IT Update)
February 1, 2005... Firms offering IT products generally received favorable reviews on a newly launched addition to the Web site of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging. The ratings are provided through the association's Center for Aging...

Federal agencies continue to have "skills gaps" among their IT workers.(IT Update)
February 1, 2005... Federal agencies continue to have "skills gaps" among their IT workers that could push the government to increase its reliance on outsourcing over the next several years. In a new report titled "Expanding E-Government, Partnering for a...

Rep. Mary Bono (R-CA).(IT Update)
February 1, 2005... Rep. Mary Bono (R-CA) reintroduced an anti-spyware bill in January that would allow fines of up to $3 million against makers of software that steals personal information from a user's computer or hijacks its browser. Congress failed to pass...

Sensor networks to help monitoring of residents.(Technology)
February 1, 2005... Sensor networks could soon give facilities, families and friends better information about resident activities and capabilities. Speaking at the Consumer Electronics show in January in Las Vegas, Intel Corp. officials announced that the sensors...

Cap on local Medicaid bill?(Northeast)
February 1, 2005... NEW YORK -- Budget advisors for New York Gov. George E. Pataki (R) announced that they are considering a plan to increase the amount the state contributes to New York's Medicaid costs, costs currently shared by the state, local and federal...

Homes get extra $1 billion.(Northeast)
February 1, 2005... PENNSYLVANIA -- Officials announced that the government will approve a nursing home assessment plan that will provide an additional $1 billion in federal funding to the state's nursing homes over the next four years. Both the state and the...

Stiffer penalties for elderly abuse.(Northeast)
February 1, 2005... MASSACHUSETTS -- The state senate approved a bill that would impose tougher criminal penalties for the abuse of the elderly. The bill would make it a felony instead of a misdemeanor to assault someone who is elderly or disabled, and the crime...

Board lets facilities off hook.(West)
February 1, 2005... ARIZONA -- Untimely investigation and poor follow-up to complaints against long-term care providers in Arizona have resulted in the dismissal of more than 80% of cases filed over the last several years, according to a Dec. 30 report by...

Facilities' quality focus pays off.(West)
February 1, 2005... OREGON -- After two years of participating in the quality improvement projects of the Oregon Intensive Group, part of the national Nursing Home Quality Initiative research, 20 Oregon nursing homes have proved their efforts are paying off. ...

Holiday strike averted.(West)
February 1, 2005... CALIFORNIA -- Workers at the Jewish Home for the Aged in San Francisco called off a strike that was scheduled for five days over the Christmas holiday season at the request of family members of residents and Sen. Barbara Boxer (D). ...

Panel seeks Medicaid freeze.(Midwest)
February 1, 2005... OHIO -- The Ohio Commission to Reform Medicaid proposed that the state freeze the rates it pays nursing homes, then implement several other policies in the industry to cap Medicaid spending. The proposals released Dec. 13 target the nursing...

More oversight wanted.(Rhode Island)
February 1, 2005... Just a few days into the new year, Rhode Island Lt. Gov. Charles Fogarty was pushing legislation to strengthen the state's role in regulating finances and resident care at nursing homes. The Germaine Morsilli Act, named after an 87-year-old...

Background check law blocked.(Southeast)
February 1, 2005... NORTH CAROLINA -- The Federal Bureau of Investigation halted a new state law aimed at increasing the type of nursing home personnel subject to criminal background checks. But a new version of the bill could be forthcoming. The law would...

Court drops hundreds of lawsuits.(Southeast)
February 1, 2005... FLORIDA -- The Florida Supreme Court has ruled that some survivors of deceased nursing home patients cannot recover damages for alleged abuse and neglect under the state's nursing home residents' bill of rights. The Dec. 16 ruling applies...

New Medicaid drug prices stay.(Southeast)
February 1, 2005... KENTUCKY -- New price restrictions for generic drugs purchased through the state's Medicaid program will remain in place, a state court judge has ruled. Judge Roger Crittenden of the Kentucky Circuit Court, Franklin County, refused to set...

Can a nurse sue us for wrongful firing if she refused to work, claiming she had to look after too many residents?(Ask The Legal Expert)
February 1, 2005... Employees sue their employers all the time. The real question is whether the nurse will be successful. This primarily depends on the nurse's status as an employee. First, check to see if your state is an employment at-will state, which...

How do we insulate ourselves from legal problems regarding admitting residents with dangerous pasts?(Ask The Legal Expert)
February 1, 2005... You really cannot insulate yourself from a resident's bad actions, especially if you were aware of such a propensity at admission. If you feel you cannot provide for the resident's care or protect other residents from him or her, the best...

'Massive' Medicare fraud is costly for HealthSouth.(Legal Matters)
February 1, 2005... As part of a much larger settlement, HealthSouth Corp. will pay the United States $1 million to settle 'allegations that several of its skilled nursing facilities unlawfully billed Medicare to avoid limits on infusion therapy services. The firm...

Bush visits tort lawyers on home turf.(Legal Matters)
February 1, 2005... President George W. Bush traveled to a place ranked the worst "judicial hellhole" in the nation, in an effort to bolster support for tort reform. The President focused on medical malpractice lawsuits, which he claimed are forcing providers to...

Insurance program raises policy issues; a four-state partnership helps illustrate why private LTC insurance remains on the periphery.(Analysis)
February 1, 2005... The growth of private long-term care insurance would seem to benefit providers, states and consumers. At a time of increasingly uncertain public reimbursement, the product offers providers the promise of steady, continued funding. ...

How to do it ... boost marketing.(Business & Marketing)
February 1, 2005... Many long-term care facilities have no marketing effort or have not really challenged their "conventional approach" to building their business. Marketing to some, especially in the not-for-profit arena, is almost considered a sin or at least...

Building the business.(Business & Marketing)
February 1, 2005... Challenge: Institutional feel Response: Cultural change Result: User-friendly overhaul CASE STUDY: A major overhaul of Pennybyrn at Maryfield in High Point, NC is trying to make residents feel more at home. As part of a $50...

When environments become habitats.(Design Decisions)
February 1, 2005... THE CORE CONCEPT behind the Eden Alternative is simple: See eldercare environments as habitats for human beings rather than facilities for the frail and elderly. The approach shows how companion animals, the opportunity to give meaningful care...

A conduit for excellence.(Profile)
February 1, 2005... Mary Tellis-Nayak President and CEO, ACHCA WHEN SHE WAS growing up on Chicago's Southwest Side, Mary, Tellis-Nayak had no idea she'd eventually be running the nation's pre-eminent association for long term care administrators. Or that...

There's really more at stake here.(The Big Picture)
February 1, 2005... If you've ever seen the movie "Cool Hand Luke," you'll remember a prison captain's infamous quote: "What we've got here is a failure to communicate." It was used to describe how the attitude of a cocky, devil-may-care inmate (the movie's...

MedPAC shadow boxing is sometimes necessary.(Editor's Desk)
February 1, 2005... You may have noticed that Congress' Medicare advisory panel put on its stingy hat again. If you haven't, I'll take it as a compliment. Your eagerness to visit this column flew you past stories on pages 3 and 12 regarding MedPAC's odious...

"What are you doing to improve morale?".(Reader Poll)
February 1, 2005... "We started a dance program for residents and employees. Every morning at 10, an announcement will come out, 'OK, everybody, let's get ready to dance.' At 10:15 sharp, we'll put on something like 'Rock Around the Clock' or 'Let's Get Excited'...

Medi-chaos? Nursing home operators and pharmacies worry about how they are going to implement the new Medicare drug benefit in time.(LTC Pharmacy)
February 1, 2005... Larry Lane doesn't mince words when it comes to assessing the federal government's new Medicare prescription benefit. "It's a mess," he says plainly. The declaration speaks volumes, for Lane has dealt with governmental relations at the...

Capital improvements: more money is becoming available, especially for solid performers.(LTC Finance)
February 1, 2005... For operators who need capital, this is already a very good year. Whether the goal is refurbishing, expanding services or even purchasing new facilities, old and new funding sources are readily available--with terms that are especially...

Interior design.(Recent arrivals: these new products provide you with the tools to conduct your business successfully)
February 1, 2005... Eldercare Interiors, Direct Supply's team of professional consultants and designers, can plan and execute a facility renovation or new construction. Services include design assistance, kitchen and laundry design, and product consultation. ...

System for healthy skin.(Recent arrivals: these new products provide you with the tools to conduct your business successfully)
February 1, 2005... The TENA[R] InstaDri Skin-Caring System[TM] from SCA helps promote skin dryness and fluid absorption for incontinence patients. Made with a new transfer layer. FOR MORE INFO: (800) 992-9939 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Tamper protection envelopes.(Recent arrivals: these new products provide you with the tools to conduct your business successfully)
February 1, 2005... TampAler Security Envelope reveals evidence of tampering of important documents. Has strong closure adhesive. Receipt stub carries coded number to match sender, recipient and contents. FOR MORE INFO: (800) 523-8966 [ILLUSTRATION...

Blood glucose monitor.(Recent arrivals: these new products provide you with the tools to conduct your business successfully)
February 1, 2005... Roche's ACCU-CHEK Go meter provides accurate blood glucose readings in just five seconds. The user activated ejector ensures that staff members never have to touch a used test strip. FOR MORE INFO: (800) 209-8958 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Ulcer treating mattress.(Recent arrivals: these new products provide you with the tools to conduct your business successfully)
February 1, 2005... The AS5000 mattress from Mason Medical Products is designed to treat pressure ulcers up to stage IV. Contains adjustable air flow control pump. FOR MORE INFO: (800) 233-4454 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]