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

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

CMS offers 3.3% update.
June 1, 2007... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services officially proposed a 3.3% marketbasket update for skilled nursing facilities for fiscal year 2008. But nearly as soon as the proposal was made at the end of April, a key congressional leader...

As OBRA nears 20, criticism continues.(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... It's been nearly 20 years since the government passed landmark nursing home regulation reform, There has been improvement, but that is no reason to celebrate wildly, believes Senate Special Committee on Aging Chairman Herbert Kohl. The...

GAO to CMS: get tougher.
June 1, 2007... The federal government has failed to punish substandard nursing homes severely enough, a new study concludes. Among 63 facilities with a history of serious quality problems, few showed improvement, even though they received fewer sanctions...

EEG detects Alzheimer's.(NEWS)
June 1, 2007... An 80-year-old technology actually offers a reliable means of diagnosing early Alzheimer's disease, a new study finds. Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals diagnosed early Alzheimer's with a rate of accuracy of between 82%-85%, scientists...

Aspirin fails older women.(NEWS)
June 1, 2007... Two new studies point to the relative ineffectiveness of aspirin in older women. One study, which appears in the Annals of Pharmacotherapy, found that aspirin was four times more effective in men than women with stable coronary artery...

Bush threatens vetoes over budget blueprint.(NEWS)
June 1, 2007... The House and Senate committed a legislative coup last month: They reached agreement on a $2.9 trillion budget plan for 2008. Their Republican predecessors, divided over spending cuts, were not so successful last year. The five-year...

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration released pandemic flu preparedness guidance for healthcare workers and their employers.(At deadline)
June 1, 2007... The Occupational Safety and Health Administration released pandemic flu preparedness guidance for healthcare workers and their employers. It issued general guidance in February.

The administration and a bipartisan group of senators agreed to a controversial, sweeping overhaul of the nation's immigration laws that would award points to migrant workers in high-demand occupations who have worked for a U.S. company.(At deadline)
June 1, 2007... The administration and a bipartisan group of senators agreed to a controversial, sweeping overhaul of the nation's immigration taws that would award points to migrant workers in high-demand occupations who have worked for a U.S. company. Points...

More than 5,000 providers have signed onto the Advancing Excellence campaign, organizers announced.(At deadline)
June 1, 2007... More than 5,000 providers have signed onto the Advancing Excellence campaign, organizers announced. It is a two-year voluntary drive in which facilities vow to improve in at least three of eight measurable clinical quality or organizational...

Bush taps Weems to head CMS.(NEWS)
June 1, 2007... President Bush has nominated Kerry Weems to become administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Pending Senate confirmation, Weems would replace Acting Administrator Leslie Norwalk, who pulled her name from consideration...

60 seconds with ... Ron Silva, CEO Filmore Capital Partners LLC.(NEWS)(Interview)
June 1, 2007... Q: Your company has been involved in a pretty intense bidding fight with the Formation Capital people over Genesis HealthCare Corp. Why do you continue to ratchet up this contest? A: The two combined properties--Golden Ventures (formerly...

Providers take wish list to lawmakers on Capitol Hill.(NEWS)
June 1, 2007... Several hundred long-term care leaders convened on Capitol Hill in mid-May to press for continued steady funding and other support. Providers divided into state contingents for lawmaker visits during the 25th annual congressional briefing of...

Study: State spending affects SNF use.(NEWS)
June 1, 2007... Elderly people requiring longterm care are less likely to enter a nursing home if their state spends more money on home-and community-based services, according to new research. Regardless of what they spend, states that double spending on...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced plans to increase Medicare payments.(Regulatory Update)
June 1, 2007... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced plans to increase Medicare payments to long-term care hospitals by 0.71% in rate year 2008.

Lawmakers should work to reduce confusion about how and whether certain medications fall under Medicare Part D or B coverage.(Regulatory Update)
June 1, 2007... Lawmakers should work to reduce confusion about how and whether certain medications fall under Medicare Part D or B coverage, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) said in its June report to Congress.

Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) introduced a bill (S. 1212) that would permit Medicare to reimburse social workers for providing mental health services in skilled nursing facilities.(Bill Watch)
June 1, 2007... Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) introduced a bill (S. 1212) that would permit Medicare to reimburse social workers for providing mental health services in skilled nursing facilities. Currently, social workers cannot bill Medicare for these...

Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) introduced a bill (S. 1107) that would provide dual eligibles in assisted living residents.(Bill Watch)
June 1, 2007... Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) introduced a bill (S. 1107) that would provide dual eligibles in assisted living residents the same co-pay coverage under Medicare Part D as dual eligibles in SNFs.

Ask the care expert: Sherrie Dornberger, RNC, CDONA, FACDONA President, NADONA.(NEWS: Resident Care)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... I am a new staff member in a skilled care facility. I work the shift from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. I want to provide the best possible care for my residents, but I see them sleeping most of the time. Can you give me some ideas of how I can get to know...

'Superbug' outbreaks thrust SNF residents into spotlight.(NEWS: Resident Care)
June 1, 2007... Researchers at Johns Hopkins Hospital recently set off warning sirens for long-term care providers when they announced that patients who were transferred from nursing homes and other long-term care facilities were many times more likely to...

Rates of diabetes are higher among seniors who exhibit or report symptoms of depression, researchers at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University found.(Caregiving Update)
June 1, 2007... Rates of diabetes are higher among seniors who exhibit or report symptoms of depression, researchers at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University found. Nearly 5,000 people age 65 and older who did not have diabetes at the...

The positive effects of respite care on older people and those who care for them are modest, say researchers from the United Kingdom.(Caregiving Update)
June 1, 2007... The positive effects of respite care on older people and those who care for them are modest, say researchers from the United Kingdom. Respite care is often used by caregivers for temporary relief and support with their responsibilities in...

The United States needs to improve its system for providing care to both seniors and the disabled, according to a new study from the Institute of Medicine.(Caregiving Update)
June 1, 2007... The United States needs to improve its system for providing care to both seniors and the disabled, according to a new study from the Institute of Medicine. Aging baby boomers are expected to increase the disabled population in the...

Ask the treatment expert: Donna Sardina, RN, MHA, WCC President, Wound Care Education Institute.(NEWS: Wound Care)
June 1, 2007... The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel has released new staging guidelines that now include "suspected deep tissue injury" to the pressure ulcer description (staging). How will this be documented on the MDS 2.0? The National Pressure...

Honey of a study to examine diabetic ulcer treatments.(NEWS: Wound Care)
June 1, 2007... Ancient civilizations used honey to treat wounds. Now the first randomized, double-blind trial of honey for diabetic ulcers is underway, says a U.S. researcher. Jennifer Eddy of the University of Wisconsin's Health's Eau Claire Family...

Smith & Nephew buys BlueSky Medical.(NEWS: Wound Care)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Smith & Nephew has purchased wound treatment company BlueSky Medical Group Inc. in a deal worth up to $110 million. Analysts said the acquisition could reinvigorate Smith & Nephew's wound care division. California-based BlueSky Medical...

Cytomedix Inc. said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is still reviewing the company's appeal.(Treatment Update)
June 1, 2007... Cytomedix Inc. said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is still reviewing the company's appeal regarding marketing clearance for its gel for healing diabetic foot ulcers called Autogel.

Bayer plans to enter the market for wound-healing products.(Treatment Update)
June 1, 2007... Bayer plans to enter the market for wound-healing products. Bayer Innovation GmbH, a subsidiary of Bayer AG, has developed a technology for the manufacture of bioresorbable wound dressings on the basis of silica gel fibers.

Kinetic Concepts Inc. has released clinical results indicating that its V.A.C. therapy wound-healing device could be useful in treating diabetic patients with foot ulcers.(Treatment Update)
June 1, 2007... Kinetic Concepts Inc. has released clinical results indicating that its V.A.C. therapy wound-healing device could be useful in treating diabetic patients with foot ulcers. A clinical trial found that patients treated with V.A.C. therapy...

The Senate passed an act to revitalize the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.(Treatment Update)
June 1, 2007... The Senate passed an act to revitalize the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The vote was 93-1.

Ask the nursing expert: Anne Marie Barnett, RN President, Maryland NADONA/LTC, DON, Xavier Health Care.(NEWS: Nursing)
June 1, 2007... Long hours, too many regulations... stress, stress, stress! Why should I bother continuing as a DON? I find myself asking that lately. This truly is a question that only you can answer. Yes, the hours are long, regulatory oversight is...

Study: nurse faculty levels fuel labor shortage fears.(NEWS: Nursing)
June 1, 2007... Despite an optimistic blip of interest from the nurse-candidate population, researchers warn that a lack of nurse educators likely will stymie attempts to curtail ongoing nursing shortages. Nurses are not pursuing advanced degrees in...

Spending on prescription drugs to treat depression, anxiety, pain, schizophrenia and other conditions rose to $20 billion in 2004 from about $8 billion in 1997, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.(Medication Update)
June 1, 2007... Spending on prescription drugs to treat depression, anxiety, pain, schizophrenia and other conditions rose to $20 billion in 2004 from about $8 billion in 1997, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Antipsychotics saw the...

Certain types of ACE inhibitor hypertension drugs may work to prevent dementia in older adults.(Medication Update)
June 1, 2007... Certain types of ACE inhibitor hypertension drugs may work to prevent dementia in older adults. These inhibitors help reduce inflammation that might contribute to dementia. Those who took them had a 50% lower rate of mental decline each year...

An annual osteoporosis injection drug could replace monthly pills in the future, according to a study published in the May 3 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.(Medication Update)
June 1, 2007... An annual osteoporosis injection drug could replace monthly pills in the future, according to a study published in the May 3 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. The study found that one annual injection of zoledronic acid improved...

The Senate failed to approve a bill that would allow the government to negotiate for lower-cost drugs under the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit.(Medication Update)
June 1, 2007... The Senate failed to approve a bill that would allow the government to negotiate for lower-cost drugs under the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit. Current law prohibits drug-price negotiation.

Ask the payment expert: Patricia Boyer, MSM, NHA, RN President, Boyer & Associates, LLC.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
June 1, 2007... What happens if I have not yet obtained my NPI number and it's after May 23, 2007? The deadline for obtaining your National Provider Identifier (NPI) number was May 23, 2007. If you have not yet applied, you are in violation of the law....

Study shows few Medicaid applicants transfer assets.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
June 1, 2007... A government study has found few nursing home residents transferred assets to acquire Medicaid-covered long-term care. The Government Accountability Office studied data from 540 Medicaid nursing home application files in three states to...

Grants for SNF alternatives.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... The federal government recently doled out more than $500 million in grants so states could build Medicaid programs that wouldn't put as many people in nursing homes. The awards went to 13 states and the District of Columbia. They were the...

Gofigure.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
June 1, 2007... 21 Today, approximately 21% of hospice enrollees are nursing home residents, up from 13% in 1997, according to the Hospice Foundation of America. 82 The percentage of nursing home residents or family members who ranked their overall...

Sunrise Senior Living Inc.'s board fired Chief Financial Officer Bradley B. Rush for cause, the company said last month.(Business Briefs)
June 1, 2007... Sunrise Senior Living Inc.'s board fired Chief Financial Officer Bradley B. Rush for cause, the company said last month. The move comes as the chain scrutinizes insider sales and certain accounting transactions in financial statements the...

Ventas Inc. is suing Health Care Property Investors Inc., which launched a competing bid for Sunrise Senior Living Real Estate Investment Trust earlier this year.(Business Briefs)
June 1, 2007... Ventas Inc. is suing Health Care Property Investors Inc., which launched a competing bid for Sunrise Senior Living Real Estate Investment Trust earlier this year. Ventas said it had to raise its price for the Canadian-based Sunrise REIT by...

Advocat Inc. is trying to fend off three people who demanded the company name them to the board of directors.(Business Briefs)
June 1, 2007... Advocat Inc. is trying to fend off three people who demanded the company name them to the board of directors. Todd R Robinson, Essel W. Bailey and Terry Cash also asked shareholders in a preliminary proxy to boycott the May 17 stockholders'...

Metro monitor.(NEWS: Companies)
June 1, 2007... Metro Monitor The top and bottom areas in the United States when it comes to average occupancy for skilled nursing facilities (for fourth quarter of 2006). Leaders Rank Metro area Occupancy 1 Minneapolis ...

Private equity firms turn up heat for Genesis HealthCare.(NEWS: Companies)
June 1, 2007... Two private equity companies were still fiercely competing to acquire Genesis HealthCare Corp. as of press time. Most recently, the Genesis board sent a notice of intention to terminate its merger agreement with a joint venture of Formation...

Kindred buys 22 facilities.(NEWS: Companies)
June 1, 2007... Amid flagging profits, Kindred Healthcare Inc. has agreed to buy 22 "underperforming" facilities from its landlord Ventas, Inc. for $171.5 million and a $3.5 million termination fee. Kindred plans to divest the facilities by the end of the...

Resident satisfaction.(Good month)
June 1, 2007... * Resident satisfaction: Residents and their families indicated they are more satisfied with nursing homes than a year ago, according to a survey from the research company My Innerview.

Wish lists.(Good month)
June 1, 2007... * Wish lists: Hundreds of providers took their message to Congress in May, as they sought funding and regulatory relief from federal lawmakers.

Sunrise growth.(Good month)
June 1, 2007... * Sunrise growth: Sunrise Senior Living plans to expand its capacity by more than 6,300 residents, or 12%, within the next two years. Sunrise is already the nation's largest operator of assisted living communities.

OBRA's legacy.(Bad month)
June 1, 2007... * OBRA's legacy. A federal law designed to improve nursing home care has proven largely ineffective against habitual offenders, according to testimony at a hearing by the Senate Special Committee on Aging.

Inflation protection.(Bad month)
June 1, 2007... * Inflation protection: A CMS request for a 3.3% increase in the market basket increase for operators is unlikely to survive budget cuts, providers and lawmakers acknowledged.

Eldercare.(Bad month)
June 1, 2007... * Eldercare: Faced with a growing elderly population, the nation must improve the way care is provided for the elderly and disabled, the Institute of Medicine predicted.

Promoting patient safety while reducing medical errors continues to be the top reason for implementing information technology.(IT Update)
June 1, 2007... Promoting patient safety while reducing medical errors continues to be the top reason for implementing information technology. However, limited financial and staffing resources remain the most significant barriers to implementation, according...

The Department of Health and Human Services named the interim head of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology to the position of official head.(IT Update)
June 1, 2007... The Department of Health and Human Services named the interim head of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology to the position of official head. Robert M. Kolodner will continue to serve as principal adviser to...

Doctors soon will be able to use their computers to access a full suite of courses, surveys, and practice guides, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently announced.(IT Update)
June 1, 2007... Doctors soon will be able to use their computers to access a full suite of courses, surveys, and practice guides, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently announced. DOQ-IT U--Doctor's Office Quality Information Technology...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently sent a letter to state Medicaid directors urging them to participate in the administration's value-driven health care (VHC) initiative, as well as the new Medicaid Quality Improvement Program (MQIP) goal.(IT Update)
June 1, 2007... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently sent a letter to state Medicaid directors urging them to participate in the administration's value-driven health care (VHC) initiative, as well as the new Medicaid Quality Improvement...

New online course aims to make managers tech savvy.(NEWS: Technology)
June 1, 2007... Historically, nursing homes have portrayed themselves as being "high-touch" rather than "high-tech." But innovation, new rules, marketplace shifts and other forces are nudging more providers toward tech tools. One of the latest...

"I couldn't live without ...".(NEWS: Technology)
June 1, 2007... Most of us know computers can make our lives easier. Gary Clason says that's exactly what WinCare integrated clinical and financial software has done at Fountain View Manor in Henryetta, OK. "WinCare helps me admit and sort orders more...

Facility seeks defense contract.(NORTHEAST)
June 1, 2007... NEW YORK -- A nursing home in New York state is seeking a contract with the government to treat troops returning from Afghanistan and Iraq with serious brain injuries. The Northeast Center for Special Care in Lake Katrine in Ulster County...

San Francisco invests in a new county facility.(CALIFORNIA)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... The home of the Golden Gate Bridge is bucking a national trend favoring home- and community-based alternatives over institutional settings. The city and county of San Francisco are spending about $483 million to replace Laguna Honda...

Group works to recruit LTC nurses.(CALIFORNIA)
June 1, 2007... MASSACHUSETTS -- The Massachusetts Extended Care Federation is actively trying to recruit nurses to stem a shortage in senior care facilities. As of 2006, the federation counted nearly 2,000 nursing vacancies in facilities across the...

Inmates flee county facility work.(CALIFORNIA)
June 1, 2007... NEW HAMPSHIRE -- Two inmates walked off their job assignment at a Brentwood nursing home, but authorities apprehended them soon afterward. Michael Saulnier and Stephen Foti, both, 22, were working on a minimum-security work detail in the...

Capital's largest facility to close.(SOUTHEAST)(Beverly LivingCenter, Northwest)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA -- The largest nursing home in the nation's capital has decided to shut down, forcing more than 300 elderly residents to leave. Residents and families of the Beverly LivingCenter, Northwest, in April received a notice to...

Some Katrina charges dropped.(SOUTHEAST)
June 1, 2007... LOUISIANA -- The owners of St. Rita's nursing home face a daunting legal battle, even after state prosecutors dismissed 36 criminal counts of cruelty to the infirm against them. Salvador and Mabel Mangano, who own St. Rita's, now are...

Court: State law comes first.(SOUTHEAST)
June 1, 2007... FLORIDA -- A nursing home in the state cannot enforce an arbitration agreement on behalf of a deceased former resident because aspects of the agreement conflict with a state law, an appeals court ruled. Provisions in the agreement require...

Facility appeals $1.75m award.(SOUTHEAST)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... SOUTH CAROLINA -- A nursing home in Charleston planned to appeal a $1.75 million verdict in a case involving a resident with multiple sclerosis. A jury in April awarded the money to Karen Taylor, who claimed her sister had lost her dignity...

Bill would tax facilities.(SOUTHWEST)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... TEXAS -- The state House passed a bill to tax nursing homes and use the money to improve care. The Texas Association of Homes and Services for the Aging supports the bill, which would place a 5% tax on nursing homes' gross revenues....

Operator to serve 42 months.(SOUTHWEST)
June 1, 2007... TEXAS -- A federal judge sentenced the owner of more than 50 nursing homes to three-and-a-half years in prison for defrauding Medicare and the state Medicaid program. U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel also ordered Rocky L. Lemon to pay $4...

DOJ uncovers facility violations.(SOUTHWEST)
June 1, 2007... NEW MEXICO - The state has agreed to address violations at a state-owned nursing home in Bayard. The Justice Department found that medical and nursing care at the Ft. Bayard Medical Center and Nursing Home was so deficient that it...

Governor offers WisconsinCare.(MIDWEST)
June 1, 2007... WISCONSIN -- Gov. Jim Doyle (D) has proposed a replacement for the SeniorCare drug program when it expires at the end of the year. WisconsinCare, as the program would be called, would provide equal or better coverage end cover more people,...

Judge seeks sex offender law.(MIDWEST)
June 1, 2007... OHIO -- A Trumbull County probate judge wants nursing home residents to be notified when registered sex offenders move into facilities. More than 3,000 registered sex offenders live in Ohio nursing homes. A local facility recently...

State seeks shortage solutions.(WEST)
June 1, 2007... HAWAII -- This Pacific state is considering solutions to a pending long-term care crisis. Hawaii has the third-lowest number of nursing facility beds per capita in the country, according to AARP. It also has the second-highest occupancy...

SNF exemption denied again.(WEST)
June 1, 2007... OREGON -- A federal district court upheld a magistrate judge's decision to deny a hospital-based skilled nursing facility a "new provider" exemption. The exemption would help the provider receive higher payments for healthcare services as a new...

Court invalidates Medicaid rule.(WEST)
June 1, 2007... WASHINGTON -- A state Medicaid regulation that reduces the amount of paid aid for disabled residents living with caregivers violates federal law, the state's supreme court ruled last month. The regulation--from the Washington Department of...

Facility settles neglect case.(PLAINS/MOUNTAIN)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... NEBRASKA -- Life Care Center of Elkhorn settled a lawsuit that accused the facility of neglect. One resident allegedly lay for hours at a time in her own feces after back surgery, the suit said. The resident, Betty Mae Hanzel, developed an...

Ask the legal expert: John Durso, Esq. Ungaretti & Harris LLP.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
June 1, 2007... What do you suggest to guard ourselves against improper workers' compensation claims (either bogus claims or claims related to previous or other employment)? Can we test employees somehow? The employer has different rights depending on...

Staff 'English only' policies ignite protests and lawsuits.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
June 1, 2007... Should long-term care employees be required to speak English? The issue flared up again in April, when Flushing Manor Geriatric Center agreed to pay $900,000 to settle an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lawsuit. The action was...

Court: nurse can't sue over 'super bug'.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
June 1, 2007... A federal trial court has ruled that a nurse who became infected on the job cannot sue the nursing home where she worked because she could not prove the facility knew she was at risk of contracting a dangerous "super bug." The nurse, Tracy...

'Bad apples' undermine OBRA's legacy: aging Committee to keep providers' and regulators' feet to the fire over care improvement.(NEWS: Analysis)
June 1, 2007... The school year is over, but you can excuse nursing home operators if they feel like they've been giving a report card full of "I's" and a mandate to go to summer school. That's what a less-than-glowing May progress report will do for you....

LTC leaders need training, support; professors write ACHCA concept paper to detail long-term care leadership needs, possibilities.(NEWS: Analysis)(Excerpt)
June 1, 2007... Editor's note: The following is an excerpt of a wide-ranging position paper written for the American College of Health Care Administrators, "Effective Leadership in Long-term care: The Need and the Opportunity." The authors delve into both...

How to do it ... skin assessment.(Business & Marketing)
June 1, 2007... New admissions can start making--or costing--skilled nursing providers significant sums of money almost immediately. A key factor is how efficiently and thoroughly a new resident is assessed and diagnosed by the nursing staff. Should an...

Multi-dimensional care: an Ohio CCRC creates an atmosphere of health and resident well-being with a full-service gym, a town square and a rhythmic design theme.(Business & Marketing: Design)
June 1, 2007... With an eye toward facilitating the health and wellness of its residents, Twin Lakes at Montgomery (OH) has created a new benchmark community. Through a unique and well-conceived design and construction, each service and area of the...

Your customer is changing.(THE BIG PICTURE)
June 1, 2007... The general view is that these are heady times for the seniors housing and care sector. It's not difficult to see why. Occupancy levels are robust across the board. Payments are as good, or better, than they have ever been. It's hard...

Long-term care leaders don't happen by accident.(Editor's DESK)
June 1, 2007... As a famous songwriter once scrawled, everybody just wants to be understood. It's a primal need, and an especially strong one if you're working in long-term care. There are at least two guys who know that very well--and they have the...

"What have you done recently to improve staffers' lives?".(Reader Poll)
June 1, 2007... "I run the IT department. I like to reward them for doing a good job. We acknowledge the work they do in front of their peers. We throw them a party. We incentivize them and let them advance." --Chief Information Officer, Carl Goodfriend,...