McKnight's Long-Term Care News articles from January 2007

McKnight's Long-Term Care News archives from January 2007

Stark wants major change.
January 1, 2007... Sweeping changes to the House's healthcare agenda could be in store if the new House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee chairman has his way. Rep. Fortney "Pete" Stark (DCA) said the House should pass legislation this month that allows the...

Congress finishes up with last-minute gifts.
January 1, 2007... A departing 109th Congress saved its best for last, as far as providers are concerned. Scrambling to wrap up work on the final day of their lame-duck session, lawmakers approved a bill that will help in at least three ways. The measure...

Fewer elderly live in SNFs.
January 1, 2007... Nursing home use has fallen sharply among older people over the last 20 years, according to a new study by the Lewin Group. A total of 3.6% of adults older than 65 used nursing homes in 2004. That compares to 4.2% in 1985. Among people 85...

More adults die from falls.(NEWS)
January 1, 2007... More elderly people are dying from falls than ever. One explanation could be that people are living longer with chronic diseases such as cancer. Falling now is the 14th leading cause of death among the elderly, according to the U.S....

Flu vaccines for all: Rand.(NEWS)
January 1, 2007... Both staff and residents need flu vaccine shots to prevent potentially deadly flu outbreaks in nursing homes, researchers say. If more than 55% of the staff and more than 89% of the residents received shots, outbreaks of...

Long-term care dodges funding bullet--for now.(NEWS)
January 1, 2007... The last working day of the 109th Congress was unlike any before it. In their hurry to wrap things up, lawmakers actually passed a fair amount of legislation while putting in a full day. In fact, they didn't call it quits until 4:35 a.m....

Federal summit stiff-arms SNFs.(NEWS)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Government health officials hosted more than 1,200 aging and health services leaders recently at a long-term care summit in Washington and their message was clear: Focus on home- and community-based care options. Institutionalized care...

Nursing homes paid $21 million in fines during 2004, according to the December issue of the Gerontologist.(At deadline)
January 1, 2007... Nursing homes paid $21 million in fines during 2004, according to the December issue of the Gerontologist. Most fines paid for survey-related activities, authors found.

Healthcare workers who use restraints on residents must have adequate training.(At deadline)
January 1, 2007... Healthcare workers who use restraints on residents must have adequate training, according to a new rule published by federal regulators.

States are on the strongest financial footing since the start of the decade.(At deadline)
January 1, 2007... States are on the strongest financial footing since the start of the decade, according to a survey from governors and state budget officials.

Most Americans aged 45 and older underestimate the cost of long-term care and overestimate what government programs will cover.(At deadline)
January 1, 2007... Most Americans aged 45 and older underestimate the cost of long-term care and overestimate what government programs will cover, an AARP survey has found.

The Department of Health and Human Services.(At deadline)
January 1, 2007... The Department of Health and Human Services wants comments by Jan. 18 on prioritizing flu-vaccine distribution in a pandemic.

60 seconds with ... Vincent Mor, Ph.D.(NEWS)(Interview)
January 1, 2007... Q: You and co-author Edward Alan Miller recently released the long-awaited report to the National Commission for Quality Long-Term Care. What were your major findings? A: It's pretty important we get financing right, and the big question...

Democrats blast Medicaid panel's reform suggestions.(NEWS)
January 1, 2007... A federal commission's recent recommendations regarding Medicaid reform provoked a swift, negative reaction from Democrats. The Medicaid Commission, which released a report to Congress in late November, offered a range of ideas to help...

Report: Part D has drug access problems.(NEWS)
January 1, 2007... Long-term care residents in many states continue to run into drug access problems as a result of the Medicare Part D drug program, researchers say. A total 15 states reported that Medicare-eligible nursing facility residents with pending...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued new pharmacy- and medicine-related guidance.(Regulatory Update)
January 1, 2007... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued new pharmacy- and medicine-related guidance. These regulations were scheduled to take effect in late December, 2006.

The Department of Health and Human Services updated its flu pandemic guidance on respiratory protection for healthcare workers.(Regulatory Update)
January 1, 2007... The Department of Health and Human Services updated its flu pandemic guidance on respiratory protection for healthcare workers, noting surgical masks and respirators are only part of an infection control system.

Prior to adjourning for the holiday season.(Bill Watch)
January 1, 2007... Prior to adjourning for the holiday season, Congress passed a bill (HR #3248) that would establish a respite care program for families who provide LTC to relatives.

Senators are considering a drug safety bill that would require the Food and Drug Administration to annually reassess all new drugs during their first three years on the market.(Bill Watch)
January 1, 2007... Senators are considering a drug safety bill that would require the Food and Drug Administration to annually reassess all new drugs during their first three years on the market. The bill also would restrict advertising for new drugs.

Ask the care expert.(NEWS: Resident Care)
January 1, 2007... Who do you suggest being a part of the hiring team for RNs, LPNs, aides, etc. so the decision-making circle is not too small? Getting your staff involved with the application and hiring process usually turns out to be a positive experience....

Better hygiene lowers rates of infections, research finds.(NEWS: Resident Care)
January 1, 2007... It's not how sick you are but how clean the healthcare facility is that determines your likelihood of developing a nosocomial infection, according to newly released research. In addition, it's the processes that caregivers follow or don't...

A history of fracture, bone weakness and depression are among the risk factors for bone fractures among post-menopausal women, say researchers studying the U.S. National Osteoporosis Risk Assessment.(Caregiving Update)
January 1, 2007... A history of fracture, bone weakness and depression are among the risk factors for bone fractures among postmenopausal women, say researchers studying the U.S. National Osteoporosis Risk Assessment. The long-term study of more than 170,000...

Nearly 58% of group long-term care claimants were younger than 65, according to an analysis of company claims by UnumProvident Corp., Chattanooga, TN.(Caregiving Update)
January 1, 2007... Nearly 58% of group long-term care claimants were younger than 65, according to an analysis of company claims by UnumProvident Corp., Chattanooga, TN. The top five claim causes were cancer, stroke, neurological disease, dementia and multiple...

Gentle massage therapy, either alone or accompanied by calming music, may help to help soothe dementia patients' agitation levels for a short period.(Caregiving Update)(Clinical report)
January 1, 2007... Gentle massage therapy, either alone or accompanied by calming music, may help to help soothe dementia patients' agitation levels for a short period. Light and gentle touch along with "verbal encouragement" at mealtime increases food intake of...

Ask the treatment expert.(NEWS: Wound Care)
January 1, 2007... How important is the Semmes Weinstein test? The Semmes Weinstein, often referred to as a monofilament test, is a screening tool to test for sensation in the diabetic foot. The test is performed by placing a 5.07 (10g) nylon monofilament...

Researchers use liquids to halt open wound bleeding.(NEWS: Wound Care)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Hong Kong University have shown that some simple biodegradable liquids can stop bleeding in wounded rodents within seconds. This development could significantly impact wound care...

The Food and Drug Administration has given Advanced BioHealing, Inc. (ABH) conditional clearance to begin enrolling patients in a pilot trial of Celaderm.(Treatment Update)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... The Food and Drug Administration has given Advanced BioHealing, Inc. (ABH) conditional clearance to begin enrolling patients in a pilot trial of Celaderm. The study, whose primary purpose is to evaluate the safety of Celaderm in humans, is...

The Food and Drug Administration has given Abbott Laboratories Inc. approval for its anti-inflammatory drug Humira.(Treatment Update)
January 1, 2007... The Food and Drug Administration has given Abbott Laboratories Inc. approval for its anti-inflammatory drug Humira. The product is used to treat psoriatic arthritis. The expanded indication is in addition to the psoriatic arthritis approval...

A hand-held probe could cut the number of patients who develop infections following operations.(Treatment Update)
January 1, 2007... A hand-held probe could cut the number of patients who develop infections following operations. The device can predict in as few as 12 hours after surgery, whether a wound is likely to become infected. Full details appear in the British Journal...

The Food and Drug Administration has given Derma Sciences Inc. approval for the firm's Algicell Ag Calcium Alginate Wound Dressing with Antimicrobial Silver.(Treatment Update)
January 1, 2007... The Food and Drug Administration has given Derma Sciences Inc. approval for the firm's Algicell Ag Calcium Alginate Wound Dressing with Antimicrobial Silver. The product helps people who require a topical antimicrobial as part of their advanced...

Ask the nursing expert.(NEWS: Nursing)
January 1, 2007... Any suggestions on how to deal with unpleasant staff? This challenge probably will follow you as long as you have a role in nursing leadership. Some of the best advice is to always listen first and discuss afterwards. I never allow...

Many nurses find cigarettes are a tough habit to break.(NEWS: Nursing)
January 1, 2007... By some estimates, about 16% of registered nurses are smokers, as are 28% of licensed practical nurses. "Smoking is a workplace issue, not just a behavior that affects the individual," said Linda Sama, a professor in the UCLA School of...

Survey: Nursing school enrollment up 5%.(NEWS: Nursing)
January 1, 2007... Enrollment in entry-level baccalaureate nursing programs rose by 5% from 2005 to 2006, according to preliminary survey findings. "Nursing schools nationwide are effectively answering the calls to expand student capacity, given the growing...

Using an older, cheaper drug to treat schizophrenia helps to reduce the overall cost of the illness by as much as 30%.(Medication Update)
January 1, 2007... Using an older, cheaper drug to treat schizophrenia helps to reduce the overall cost of the illness by as much as 30%. And there is no apparent difference in safety or effectiveness between perphenazine and other newer medications, such as...

Elderly people who are at risk of hip fracture due to osteoporosis prefer taking a pill to wearing an external hip protector, a survey of 67 older adults finds.(Medication Update)
January 1, 2007... Elderly people who are at risk of hip fracture due to osteoporosis prefer taking a pill to wearing an external hip protector, a survey of 67 older adults finds. But more than half of those surveyed already were taking a bisphosphonate, such as...

Got knee pain? You may want to try Botox.(Medication Update)
January 1, 2007... Got knee pain? You may want to try Botox. Injections of botulinum toxin type A, which is best known for its effectiveness against facial wrinkles, helped to decrease serious knee pain among osteoarthritis sufferers, according to researchers at...

Tablets improves Parkinson's patients' motor functions, ADLs.(News: DRUG UPDATE)(Drug overview)
January 1, 2007... Azilect Company: Teva Neuroscience Rx Pharmacologic class: Antiparkinson agent (MAO-B inhibitor) Active ingredient: Rasagiline 0.5mg, 1mg; tabs. Indication: Idiopathic Parkinson's disease, as initial monotherapy and as an...

Cannabinoid capsules ease chemo effects.(News: DRUG UPDATE)(Drug overview)
January 1, 2007... Cesamet Company: Valeant CII Pharmacologic class: Antiemetic (cannabinoid) Active ingredient: Nabilone 1mg; caps. Indication: Treatment of nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy in patients who have not...

Powder form of insulin inhaled for diabetes self-treatment.(News: DRUG UPDATE)
January 1, 2007... Exubera Company: Pfizer Rx Active ingredient: Insulin (human [rDNA origin]) 1mg, 3mg; per blister; dry pwd for oral inhalation. Indication: Type 1 diabetes (in a regimen with a longer-acting insulin) or type 2 diabetes (as...

Opioid effective for pain after stomach, orthopedic surgeries.(News: DRUG UPDATE)
January 1, 2007... Opana ER Companies: Endo CII Pharmacologic class: Opioid Active ingredient: Oxymorphone HCl 5mg, 10mg, 20mg, 40mg; ext-rel tabs. Indication: Moderate to severe pain when the use of a continuous, around-the-clock opioid is required for...

Oral tabs for Parkinson's, fast absorbing.(News: DRUG UPDATE)
January 1, 2007... Zelapar Company: Valeant Rx Pharmacologic class: Antiparkinson agent (MAO-B inhibitor) Active ingredient: Selegiline 1.25mg; orally disintegrating tabs; contains phenylalanine. Indication: Adjunct in Parkinson's disease in...

Shingles preventative, performs best for those aged 60 to 69.(News: DRUG UPDATE)(Drug overview)
January 1, 2007... Zostavax Company: Merck Rx Pharmacologic class: Vaccine Active ingredient: Varicella zoster vaccine, live, attenuated; minimum of 19,400 PFU/0.65mL dose; pwd for SC inj after reconstitution w. supplied diluent; contains neomycin,...

Ask the payment expert.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
January 1, 2007... When can I combine assessments to complete an OMRA and another assessment? You can combine assessments if the Assessment Reference Dates (ARDs) for one assessment coincide with those of the other assessment. For example, if the last day of...

Nursing homes still fill need for very sick, new study says.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
January 1, 2007... Providers around the country have a new weapon against claims that home- and community-based care settings are the answer to "high" nursing home costs. Virginia study results recently showed that only a small fraction of Medicaid nursing...

1st Medicaid spending drop.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
January 1, 2007... Medicaid spending fell this year for the first time in the history of the 41-year-old program. Fueled largely by a shift in drug spending to the Medicare program, Medicaid outlays dipped 1.4% for the first nine months of 2006, compared...

Gofigure.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
January 1, 2007... 13 The Medicare drug benefit cost is this many billion dollars less than expected in the program's first year, according to federal officials. 7.25 This many dollars per hour may be the federal minimum wage if Democrats follow through with...

Health Care Property Investors Inc. sold 78 skilled nursing facilities for $443.5 million.(Business Briefs)
January 1, 2007... Health Care Property Investors Inc. sold 78 skilled nursing facilities for $443.5 million. The properties have 28 different operators and include 8,881 licensed beds, according to the real estate investment trust.

Genesis HealthCare Corp.'s profits fell.(Business Briefs)(Financial report)
January 1, 2007... Genesis HealthCare Corp.'s profits fell by 39%, to about $7 million, in the fiscal fourth quarter. Revenues rose by 6%, to approximately $454 million. A $5.5 million write-down of two centers dragged down results. Earnings for the year fell to...

Brookdale Senior Living Inc. closed on a deal to acquire 30 communities for $148.6 million from Nationwide Health Properties Inc.(Business Briefs)
January 1, 2007... Brookdale Senior Living Inc. closed on a deal to acquire 30 communities for $148.6 million from Nationwide Health Properties Inc. Brookdale formerly leased and operated the properties. The communities are in Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Ohio,...

Advocat Inc.'s earnings shot up.(Business Briefs)
January 1, 2007... Advocat Inc.'s earnings shot up in the third quarter to $9 million on higher revenues of $54 million. Results included an $8 million benefit for income taxes this year compared to just $200,000 in 2005.

Metro monitor.(NEWS: Companies)
January 1, 2007... MetroMonitor The markets with the biggest average increases and decreases in skilled nursing facility occupancy rates (comparing third quarter 2006 to third quarter 2005). Market Change in Occupancy Rank Leaders ...

Sunrise sets up committee to examine financial moves.(NEWS: Companies)
January 1, 2007... Responding to questions about possible financial impropriety, the board of Sunrise Assisted Living Inc. last month appointed an independent committee to review recent financial maneuvers at the firm. The SEIU Master Trust, a pension fund...

Extendicare reorganizes.(NEWS: Companies)
January 1, 2007... Extendicare Inc. has completed its spin-off of its assisted living business and converted the remainder of the company into a real estate investment trust. The company board proceeded with the reorganization after temporarily postponing it...

Acting CMS Administrator.(IT Update)
January 1, 2007... Acting CMS Administrator Leslie Norwalk said the agency "might have to help forward health information technology on a regulatory basis." The step could occur if Congress fails to enact healthcare IT legislation, she noted. The most likely...

HHS Secretary.(IT Update)
January 1, 2007... HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said he has couched expectations for a health information technology bill that was in congressional limbo. Instead, he said he expects more meaningful and rapid change to come from the marketplace. Healthcare IT is...

The Center for.(IT Update)
January 1, 2007... The Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST) clearinghouse has expanded to include 175 new technology innovations designed to help improve the care and services for older adults. The latest entries address dementia and cardiovascular care....

HHS should expand.(IT Update)(US Department of Health and Human Services)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... HHS should expand HIPAA privacy protections to all personal health records, according to a draft report by the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics. The committee also recommends that HHS develop policies for identifying...

A new federal.(IT Update)(using electronic health records)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... A new federal rule governing procedures for electronic discovery--the gathering and use of evidence in electronic media for civil cases--took effect in December. The American Health Information Management Association has published a white paper...

Long-term care may finally be warming to IT's benefits.(NEWS: TECHNOLOGY)
January 1, 2007... While acute care has moved forward in bolstering information technology support staff, installing advanced architecture and formulating sophisticated operational strategies, long-term care has been reluctant to commit precious dollars toward...

"I couldn't live without ...".(NEWS: TECHNOLOGY)
January 1, 2007... "It's amazing to see residents who have suffered with chronic wounds heal completely and so quickly," remarks Mary Ann Mangels. She's talking about the benefits of using a state-of-the-art wound V.A.C. Caregivers at the Daleview Care...

Culture could reduce med errors.(MIDWEST)
January 1, 2007... MISSOURI -- Creating a nursing home culture of safety will help to minimize medication errors, according to a study by researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Administrators need to stop assigning blame for mistakes and start...

Document sharing costs CNA.(MIDWEST)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... IOWA -- A former Waterloo, IA, nurse's aide who was fired for improperly sharing confidential resident information, was recently denied unemployment benefits, The Des Moines Register reported. The case has raised ethical issues on both sides....

Fire kills 10 at group home, cause still unknown.(MISSOURI)
January 1, 2007... A fire tore through a group home for the mentally ill in November, killing nine residents and a staff member and sending 18 other people to the hospital, some in critical condition. Faulty wiring may have started the blaze, which was one of...

Panel suggests massive bed cuts.(NORTHEAST)(Commission on Health Care Facilities)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... NEW YORK -- A healthcare commission recommended shutting down 3,000 of the state's nursing home beds, or 3% of the state's total bed volume. The Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century in its report also called for closing...

More elderly opt out of SNFs.(NORTHEAST)
January 1, 2007... VERMONT -- A one-year-old program that gives elderly individuals a choice between nursing home and home care has resulted in a decrease in residents in facilities. A total of 2,131 residents lived in nursing homes as of October. That's 155...

Program to pay family for care.(NORTHEAST)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... MASSACHUSETTS -- The state last month launched a pilot project that will pay family members about $18,000 a year to care for an elderly relative or a relative with a disability at home. The program, which is being administered by...

Facilities lose Medicaid court case.(NORTHEAST)
January 1, 2007... NEWYORK -- The state's highest court ruled that the rate-setting methodology used by the state Medicaid program to reimburse nursing homes complies with state law. The decision rejected a lawsuit filed by 62 facilities claiming that the...

Five years for doctoring records.(NORTHEAST)
January 1, 2007... PENNSYLVANIA -- An administrator of a nursing home near Pittsburgh was sentenced to five years in federal prison for defrauding the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Martha Bell claimed at her sentencing she did not know the facility...

Former CFO faces fraud charges.(PLAINS/MOUNTAINS)
January 1, 2007... MONTANA -- Five years after the state closed Prairie Vista Manor, prosecutors have charged Jesse Marcel III, the nursing home's former chief financial officer, with eight counts of healthcare fraud, filing false claims to the government and...

Right-to-die suit goes to trial.(SOUTHEAST)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... FLORIDA -- A case that could set legal precedent in the state revolves around whether a 92-year-old resident was deprived of her right to die with dignity. It is thought to be the first case to seek damages involving wrongful prolongation...

Medicaid targets family homes.(SOUTHEAST)
January 1, 2007... TENNESSEE -- The state Medicaid program is more vigorously targeting family homes as a way to pay for nursing home care. TennCare typically goes after the family homes of nursing home residents who have passed away. Families of residents on...

Providers to train nurses.(SOUTHEAST)
January 1, 2007... MISSISSIPPI -- Hospitals and nursing schools in the northeast part of the state are working to combat the nursing shortage. Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi in Oxford and the North Mississippi Medical Center-Tupelo have joined...

Healthcare proposal 'costly'?(SOUTHEAST)
January 1, 2007... LOUISIANA -- A plan under federal review that would revamp the New Orleans-area healthcare system for uninsured residents would carry a hefty price tag, some officials say. It would cost $360 million more annually than what the state now...

Former owner admits to fraud.(SOUTHWEST)
January 1, 2007... TEXAS -- A former owner of more than 50 nursing homes here and in other states pleaded guilty to executing a scheme to defraud the Medicare and Medicaid programs of about $4.2 million, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas Johnny...

Ask the legal expert.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
January 1, 2007... What do you find most often lacking in a corporate compliance plan? What will get a provider in the most hot water in this area? Facilities can strengthen their corporate compliance plans by clearly articulating mechanisms for effective...

Court: new owners remain on the hook for unpaid fines.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
January 1, 2007... A new nursing home owner that assumes a Medicare provider agreement also acquires unpaid civil monetary penalties from the prior owner, according to a federal district court ruling. The rule falls under the doctrine of successor liability,...

Provider in TV ad cries 'foul,' logs victory.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
January 1, 2007... A West Virginia nursing facility recently had reason to celebrate. It persuaded a Texas law firm to remove the provider's name from a television ad soliciting clients for abuse and neglect lawsuits. The law firm, Pulaski and Middleman of...

How to do it ... resident security.(Business & Marketing)
January 1, 2007... Long-term care providers need to know at least a little bit about a lot of things. When the human element is involved, that's when things start to get especially tricky. If those humans are wander-or fall-prone--not to mention elderly and...

Little houses on the prairie: 'Green House' style buildings make skilled nursing care more intimate for Kansas facility; more 'cluster' homes will soon be on the way.(Business & Marketing: Design)
January 1, 2007... Recognized for excellence before they were even occupied, two new 12-resident freestanding homes symbolize a new era in skilled nursing care for Parkside Homes. Six months before the neighborhood-style "cluster" homes opened in July, the...

So much for convention.(Opinion)
January 1, 2007... In The Affluent Society, Economist John Kenneth Galbraith coined a term for ideas or explanations viewed as being generally true: conventional wisdom. When supported by evidence, conventional wisdom can be a useful way to cut through...

McKnight's online expo: gains without the pains.(Editor's DESK)(Editorial)
January 1, 2007... If you're like most professionals in the field, you've come to the conclusion you just can't do it all. OK, you're a member of the long-term care community so maybe you fed like you're asked to do it all sometimes. But we all know...

Reader poll: what is your favorite part of the workday?(Opinion)
January 1, 2007... "The best part of my workday is those precious few minutes that I carve out to go out into the dining or living room, and just sit down with the residents and talk about ordinary things? --Administrator, T. Marie Hock-Rasdon. Medicalodge of...

O'Connor on the right page with book choices.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2007... I salute the courage of McKnight's Associate Publisher John O'Connor. In the November issue (page 34), O'Connor cited two recently published books that challenge providers to confront the "dregs" of the long-term care system. O'Connor's...

Financial fines, penalties don't improve quality.(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2007... I just read through CMS's draft Action Plan for Nursing Home Quality for 2007 and find that in the effort to achieve quality in our facilities, CMS again has taken the position that it intends to further use the punitive approach to achieving...