McKnight's Long-Term Care News articles from June 2002

McKnight's Long-Term Care News archives from June 2002

Three house democrats. (Late Breaking News).
June 14, 2002... Three House Democrats unveiled plans for a bill that would reinstate the Boren Amendment, which calls for "reasonable" reimbursement levels, and require facilities that receive federal funding to provide each resident with at least 4.1 hours of...

The U.S. average monthly. (Late Breaking News).
June 14, 2002... The U.S. average monthly cost for assisted living is $2,159 ($25,908 annually), according to a "first-of-a-kind" study from the U.S. MetLife Mature Market Institute. New York City was the highest at $3,696 monthly, while the lowest was Jackson,...

The centers for medicare. (Late Breaking News).
June 14, 2002... The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has added thousands of violations discovered from complaint investigations at long-term care facilities to www.medicare.gov, which previously housed violation information found only at scheduled,...

A federal appeals court. (Late Breaking News).
June 14, 2002... A federal appeals court ruled that individual Medicaid providers and beneficiaries have the right to sue state governments to enforce state's Medicaid obligations.

Medicaid funding under siege.
June 14, 2002... Medicaid spending has grown five times faster than states' revenue streams over the last two years, creating a shortfall of $7.1 billion, according to a new report released by the National Governors Association. Drug costs as well as...

Databank.
June 14, 2002... Databank Failure to communicate Documentation of physician-to-nurse conversations at nursing homes was found lacking in a recent study by medical researchers. Cases in which necessary documentation of calls 88% was found in...

Battle for more federal funding heating up: some worry that Congress will think 'half' is better than none. (Reimbursement Update).
June 14, 2002... Like players in a half-finished game of tug-of-war, long-term care providers are hoping that lawmakers don't stop pulling in the right direction. Providers gained about $1 billion in turf in April when the federal government announced it...

Promising dementia research includes a dose of mother nature. (Reimbursement Update).
June 14, 2002... Some of the latest breakthroughs for dementia disorders are not only showing promise in terms of treatment and prevention, they are also originating from a simple source: nature. Preliminary data from a number of studies has underscored the...

Press coverage called balanced but data still questioned: learning process unfolding for national rollout of federal quality initiative for nursing homes. (Quality Initiative).
June 14, 2002... While experts continued to argue about the nature of the data from the new, highly publicized quality initiative, life and assessments went on as usual for most nursing facilities. Quality measure info began appearing online April 24 and...

CMS cuts provider paperwork. (Regulatory Update).
June 14, 2002... Federal Register 5-31-02. Starting July 1, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will allow skilled nursing facilities to use the 3 1/2-page Medicare Payment Assessment Form rather than the standard eight-page Minimum Data Set, in most...

Upper payment limit finally lowered. (Regulatory Update).
June 14, 2002... A federal judge ruled in mid-May that the lowering of the Medicaid upper payment limit from 150% to 100% of estimated Medicare costs should go into effect immediately. Members of both houses of Congreses entered resolutions of disapproval.

Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP). (Legislative Update).
June 14, 2002... S. 2570 would temporarily increase the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for the Medicaid program, and for other purposes. Introduced by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME).

Sen. Robert Torricelli. (Legislative Update).
June 14, 2002... S. 2490 would extend Medicare reimbursement add-ons worth $1.4 billion to skilled nursing providers. Introduced by Sen. Robert Torricelli (D-NJ).

Hard data.
June 14, 2002... 26.7 Percentage of obese seniors, an amount that nearly doubled from 1982 to 1999, according to AARP's Public Policy Institute. 64 Percent chance that a stroke victim 85 or older would die before getting to a hospital, according...

Stock watch.
June 14, 2002... WINNERS & LOSERS Winners Percent Company name change * Omega Healthcare Investors Inc. (OHI) 20% Advocat (AVCA) 14%...

Risky arbitration provision useful for risk management. (Business).
June 14, 2002... Offering potential residents arbitration, rather than litigation, as a future dispute resolution method, is becoming increasingly popular -- with multimillion dollar settlements, even higher jury verdicts and the liability insurance crisis...

Marriott International Inc. (New Business).
June 14, 2002... Marriott International Inc, Washington, sold five assisted living communities to CNL Retirement Corp. for approximately $59 million. Marriott will continue to operate the communities under long-term management agreements. The two Brighton...

Shadows bend development. (New Business).
June 14, 2002... Shadows Bend Development, Baton Rouge, LA, acquired Holly Hills Corporate Services for $804,000. Holly Hills owns a 22-bed Alzheimer's care facility in Marion, IL. Shadows Bend specializes in the development of free-standing specialty care...

Emeritus Assisted Living. (New Business).
June 14, 2002... Emeritus Assisted Living, Seattle, finalized a management agreement on eight of its assisted living facilities in Louisiana and Texas. The company had intended to assume the leases and mortgages of the facilities, which contain a total of 617...

Multi-health Services. (Construction).
June 14, 2002... Multi-Health Services, Dayton, OH, is building a 77,000 square foot long-term care facility on Columbus' south side. The Scioto Community will cost approximately $10.5 million to build. The complex will include a 93-bed skilled nursing home...

Love Funding Corporation. (Financing).
June 14, 2002... Love Funding Corporation, Boston, arranged $25 million in sale-leaseback financing for Good Neighbor Care Centers LLC, an Oregon-based provider of care for elderly patients with memory loss. Good Neighbor will use the financing to refinance one...

Cambridge Realty Capital. (Financing).
June 14, 2002... Senior housing lender Cambridge Realty Capital, Chicago, announced that during the first quarter of 2002 it received requests for funding totaling $691 million. The company said it received 37 loan requests from borrowers seeking to refinance,...

American Retirement Corporation. (Financing).
June 14, 2002... American Retirement Corporation, Nashville, closed a new mortgage debt on three of its retirement communities with. GE Capital Healthcare Financial Services. The $95.7 million mortgage debt is for three years with two additional one-year...

Leading LTC firms.
June 14, 2002... Leading LTC Firms Top long-term care facilities Market capital- 5/17 4/26 Company ...

Speakers bureau takes effort, worth the work. (Marketing Issues).
June 14, 2002... Q: You've mentioned utilizing a speakers' bureau as part of our overall marketing strategy. How should that be set up? A: The use of a speakers' bureau can be an integral part of your outreach program. It is a little time consuming to get...

Bill may not pass but draws good attention. (Regulatory Issues).
June 14, 2002... Q: What's your impression of the new bill calling for a return of the Borea Amendment, minimum staffing levels and a hike in Medicaid funding to cover the costs? A: My overall impression of the proposed bill is that it is an important step...

Liability lawsuits fall into defensible patterns. (Legal Issues).
June 14, 2002... Q: What strategies of plaintiff malpractice lawyers should a long-term care manager be aware of? A: Most of the lawsuits still arise from a few fact patterns, including, but not limited to, the following: elopements or wanderings, falls,...

Create leaders by following these steps. (Workplace Issues).
June 14, 2002... Q: I have seat several of my department heads off to classes and seminars on management. I just have not seen the results to justify the expense. Any suggestion on how lean improve their leadership abilities? A: You may have seen in this...

Direct Supply Healthcare Equipment. (Product Focus).
June 14, 2002... Direct Supply's exclusive new Panacea wheelchair cushions provide the same support and comfort found in the Panacea mattresses, with superior fluid-proof protection, according to the company. Panacea cushions also feature a high-urethane cover...

SCA Incontinence Care. (Product Focus).
June 14, 2002... SCA Incontinence Care has improved its medium, large and extra-large Dry Comfort [TM] Extra briefs with greater absorbency. End users receive effective incontinence protection at a very competitive price. The only visible change is a "Now More...

Universal Medical Products. (Product Focus).
June 14, 2002... UMP's newly redesigned Deluxe Bed Sentry System uses a 24' x 36" monitoring air pad that goes underneath the resident's mattress, so residents are comfortably monitored and the pad is protected from incontinence problems, according to the...

Alarm systems convenient for residents and staff. (New Products).
June 14, 2002... Fidelity TeleAlarm Fidelity TeleAlarm has the tools to improve the lives of residents and staff in the senior housing marketplace with state-of-the-art wireless emergency call systems and AVALON -- the ultimate senior housing...

Sleep mask helps with obstructive sleep apnea. (New Products).
June 14, 2002... SleepNet Corp. SleepNet has introduced the MiniMe [TM] nasal mask for obstructive sleep apnea. The mask for adult CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) therapy is comfortable, lightweight and bendable, according to the company. The...

Activity therapy catalog offers exclusive products. (New Products).
June 14, 2002... NASCO The 2002 Activity Therapy catalog from NASCO features more than 145 new products for activity directors in long-term care. The catalog offers products for sensory activities, manipulatives, memory stimulation, musical activities,...

Worth repeating.
June 14, 2002... "What's mare, Taco Bell and nursing homes compete far the same low-wage workers." U.S. News and World Report writer Pamela Sherrid, in a passage about the irony of William Floyd, a former top exec at Taco Bell, becoming the new CEO of...

Assist leader. (People & Opinions).
June 14, 2002... The assisted living industry can look forward to a stronger voice in Washington and public policy affairs if Paul Willging has his way. Formerly the top executive of the American Health Care Association and briefly the head of what is now known...

A director wanting a new script. (Commentary).
June 14, 2002... The Assisted Living Federation of American made a strong statement this spring when it hired Paul Willging as its new president and CEO. For their thanks, ALFA leaders are liable to hear some strong statements themselves -- from Willging. ...

Taylor-made staffing solutions raise CNA's stature. (LTC Profile: Amy Taylor).
June 14, 2002... While many long-term care facilities scramble to boost staffing levels and at the same time cut costs, one Midwest facility is resting easy thanks to a dedicated nursing assistant with an eye for resource management. Amy Taylor said she...

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Quality products coupled with care protocols curb pressure ulcers.
June 14, 2002... Of the multitude of resident-care challenges facing long-term care facilities, few are as troubling to caregivers and administrators as pressure ulcers. Given the consequences surrounding the common condition, the concerns are justified....