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

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

Medicare pay still uncertain.
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Provider groups continued to press for Medicare funding increases at press time. At risk is skilled nursing's 3.3% inflationary, or marketbasket, pay increase. Cuts were averted in October, when President Bush...

Report blasts private equity for cutbacks.
November 1, 2007... Private equity investors who have been hailed in long-term care circles for scooping up hundreds of facilities at high prices were ripped in a New York Times investigative article for allegedly cutting nursing hours and expenditures to boost...

Medicaid gap looms large.
November 1, 2007... Medicaid reimbursements to nursing homes will fall short by at least $4.4 billion this year, according to the accounting firm BDO Seidman and consultancy Eljay LLC. In 2007, the national average per diem gap in reimbursement will be...

Blood test for Alzheimer's?(NEWS)
November 1, 2007... A newly developed blood test could pinpoint those with mild cognitive impairment who are likely to develop Alzheimer's. Such a test, if validated, could lead to medicating at-risk patients earlier, scientists say. Currently, diagnosis is...

Flu shot gains more support.(NEWS)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The debate rages on about the need for flu shots in older adults, but most scientists agree that elders are better off with them than without them. Despite weak evidence regarding the effectiveness of the...

Profits put before care? Senators seek answers.(NEWS)
November 1, 2007... Following a New York Times investigation that linked poor care with private-equity owners, leading lawmakers are calling for hearings and investigations that will affect some of the nation's largest nursing home chains. At press time,...

Add LTC to campaign plans: poll.(NEWS)
November 1, 2007... Americans are looking to the presidential candidates for long-term care solutions, according to results of a new poll. Approximately 80% of respondents said they'd like the presidential candidates to include long-term care in their...

The House failed to override the President's veto of the State Children's Health Insurance Program.(At deadline)
November 1, 2007... The House failed to override the President's veto of the State Children's Health Insurance Program. For now, the move preserves Medicare funding levels that long-term care providers receive.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is seeking comments about providers' paperwork burdens.(At deadline)
November 1, 2007... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is seeking comments about providers' paperwork burdens when it comes to Medicare, through Nov. 13.

Nursing home residents are among those with the highest methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection rates.(At deadline)
November 1, 2007... Nursing home residents are among those with the highest methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection rates, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Medicaid.(At deadline)
November 1, 2007... Medicaid's "institutional bias" continues to encourage nursing home placement for seniors say state healthcare officials, They testified recently at a Senate Finance Committee hearing on expanding home- and community-based care options.

60 seconds with ... Joseph Lubarsky: President, Eljay LLC, study author.(NEWS)(Interview)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Q: In all six years of your study of Medicaid funding there have been vast payment shortfalls. What was different this year? A: Things actually improved a little. If you look at Medicaid alone, things are...

AHCA in 'pretty good' shape despite challenges: Yarwood.(NEWS)
November 1, 2007... The long-term care industry has some obstacles to overcome, but the American Health Care Association is the strongest it's ever been, said Bruce Yarwood, president and CEO, during a speech at the group's annual conference in October. ...

Report shows shift from institutional care.(NEWS)
November 1, 2007... The independent living and assisted living sectors have continued to siphon would-be residents from nursing facilities, new statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau confirm. The percentage of U.S. seniors living in nursing homes dropped nearly...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services plans to release guidance.(Regulatory Update)
November 1, 2007... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services plans to release guidance regarding safe food handling, nutritional parameters and pain management over the next two months.

A new Joint Commission rule set to take effect Jan. 1.(Regulatory Update)
November 1, 2007... A new Joint Commission rule set to take effect Jan. 1 prohibits retaliatory disciplinary action against whistleblowers, or workers who report concerns about the safety and quality of care at accredited facilities.

The House last month passed a resolution supporting the goals of Long-Term Care Awareness Week, which takes place Nov. 4-10.(Bill Watch)
November 1, 2007... The House last month passed a resolution supporting the goals of Long-Term Care Awareness Week, which takes place Nov. 4-10. The week was established to raise awareness about long-term care planning.

Reps. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Mike Rogers (R-MA) introduced a bill (H.J. Res 54).(Bill Watch)
November 1, 2007... Reps. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Mike Rogers (R-MA) introduced a bill (H.J. Res 54) that would reverse a decision to limit Medicare coverage for the use of anemia medications.

Ask the care expert.(NEWS: Resident Care)
November 1, 2007... I am a charge nurse at a skilled care facility and assist with the MDS. I overheard our DON talking about a "CARE tool." Can you give me some information on this? On July 27, 2007, a notice was published in the Federal Register outlining...

Report: home assessments help to minimize risk of falls.(NEWS: Resident Care)(Report)
November 1, 2007... Assessing living spaces can dramatically reduce hazards that contribute to falls and injuries prevalent in the over-65 group, a new report states. The National Council on Aging and Home Safety Council highlighted 10 creative programs and...

Treat mini strokes as major, studies say.(NEWS: Resident Care)
November 1, 2007... Treating patients quickly after mini strokes could dramatically cut their chances of a having a major stroke later, according to new research by British and French doctors. The findings suggest that healthcare providers should now regard...

Even though Medicare covers the cost of cardiac rehabilitation, less than one in five senior citizens follow through with the beneficial therapy after a heart attack or open-heart surgery, according to researchers at Brandeis University in Waltham, MA.(Caregiving Update)
November 1, 2007... Even though Medicare covers the cost of cardiac rehabilitation, less than one in five senior citizens follow through with the beneficial therapy after a heart attack or open-heart surgery, according to researchers at Brandeis University in...

Older adults with suicidal tendencies are more likely than their younger counterparts to be hospitalized, new data from the government indicates.(Caregiving Update)
November 1, 2007... Older adults with suicidal tendencies are more likely than their younger counterparts to be hospitalized, new data from the government indicates. Nearly three-fourths of elderly adults with self-inflicted injuries end up being hospitalized...

The average per-day cost of care at adult day care centers nationwide is $61, according to what has been touted as the first nationwide survey of such services.(Caregiving Update)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... The average per-day cost of care at adult day care centers nationwide is $61, according to what has been touted as the first nationwide survey of such services. The highest average for adult day care was found in Vermont ($130 per day) and the...

Ask the treatment expert.(NEWS: Wound Care)
November 1, 2007... What are some guidelines we can follow for documenting incision-site care in fresh post-op residents? * Mark time since surgery in days. Example: Postop day 6 * Document the anatomic location of the incision. * Chart the length of...

Revamped WOCN Web site provides easier navigation.(NEWS: Wound Care)(Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society announced that it has relaunched its Web site (www.wocn.org) in an effort to better meet its users' needs and interests. "The home page has been redesigned with a more professional appearance...

Mattress senses moves, shifts pressure.(NEWS: Wound Care)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... A new wound-therapy mattress that senses resident movement and adjusts to redistribute pressure made its debut in October at the Clinical Symposium on Advances in Skin and Wound Care Conference in Nashville. The E700 Wound Surface,...

The Food and Drug Administration has given Cytomedix Inc. marketing clearance for its AutoloGel System.(Treatment Update)
November 1, 2007... The Food and Drug Administration has given Cytomedix Inc. marketing clearance for its AutoloGel System. The product is designed to treat exuding wounds, including leg, pressure, and diabetic ulcers, and for the management of mechanically or...

The Food and Drug Administration has given Sanuwae Inc. conditional approval to initiate a multicenter, prospective, randomized clinical trial utilizing its dermaPACE[TM] device for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers.(Treatment Update)
November 1, 2007... The Food and Drug Administration has given Sanuwae Inc. conditional approval to initiate a multicenter, prospective, randomized clinical trial utilizing its dermaPACE[TM] device for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. The device produces...

PuriCore announced it has received a patent for its wound treatment system.(Treatment Update)(wound treatment system)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... PuriCore announced it has received a patent for its wound treatment system. PuriCore's methods employ hypochlorous acid at neutral or near-neutral pH to enhance the healing process for wounds. Research shows that PuriCore's invention method...

Ask the nursing expert.(NEWS: Nursing)
November 1, 2007... What do you see as unexpected "obstacles" that I might encounter as a new director of nursing? The most challenging residents are those who are younger and perhaps have behavior or psychiatric issues, including addiction problems. ...

AAHSA chief renews call for nursing care documentation.(NEWS: Nursing)
November 1, 2007... While many providers reacted angrily to a New York Times investigation into nurse staffing levels at equity-owned nursing homes, the leader of the nation's second-largest nursing home association responded to the story differently. The...

Free, online education series is available.(NEWS: Nursing)
November 1, 2007... Nurses, students and others have a new tool to conduct a wide range of assessments and best practices on older individuals. The Try This series includes articles and video dips available for free viewing and downloading. The tools "utilize...

An annual infusion of Reclast after a mild hip fracture helps to prevent another broken bone, according to findings in the New England Journal of Medicine.(Medication Update)
November 1, 2007... An annual infusion of Reclast after a mild hip fracture helps to prevent another broken bone, according to findings in the New England Journal of Medicine. The drug, produced by Novartis AG, also prolongs life in elderly patients, the study...

A record number of flu vaccine doses--132 million--is expected to be available this flu season, according to officials from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.(Medication Update)
November 1, 2007... A record number of flu vaccine doses--132 million--is expected to be available this flu season, according to officials from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. The CDC urges more at-risk populations to receive them.

Calcium supplements are the best defense against broken hips later in life, a new study of more than 9,000 post-menopausal women suggests.(Medication Update)
November 1, 2007... Calcium supplements are the best defense against broken hips later in life, a new study of more than 9,000 postmenopausal women suggests. They also may offer the best protection against forearm fractures early in menopause.

Vitamin D not only is good for bones, but it also is linked to longevity.(Medication Update)
November 1, 2007... Vitamin D not only is good for bones, but it also is linked to longevity. In a recent analysis of more than 18 studies, those who took supplements had a 7% reduction in mortality from all causes compared with those who didn't take the vitamin....

Ask the payment expert.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
November 1, 2007... What is the value of having a daily "stand-up" meeting in our facility? The daily "stand-up" meeting is an essential part of your strategic management of Medicare and case-mix Medicaid. Recently, we have seen more and more facilities that...

Providers fear extension of surveyor revisit fees in '08.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
November 1, 2007... Providers were pinning hopes at press time on House legislation that would rescind survey and certification revisit user fees for fiscal year 2008. The fees, which could cost a facility thousands of dollars each, were put into effect Sept....

States increasing Medicaid.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
November 1, 2007... Medicaid enrollment dipped for the first time in nearly a decade this year. At the same time, states were expanding coverage of long-term care services. The growth, however, did not necessarily send more individuals to skilled nursing...

Go figure.(NEWS: Payment & Policy)
November 1, 2007... 6 Monthly revenues at skilled nursing facilities increased almost 6% over a 12-month period ending mid-2007, according to a Marcus & Millichap housing report. 69 Just over 69% of America's 1.8 million nursing home residents are women,...

Development continues to slow in the skilled nursing housing segment, bolstering occupancy, a new report states.(Business Briefs)
November 1, 2007... Development continues to slow in the skilled nursing housing segment, bolstering occupancy, a new report states. A total of 2,600 beds are under construction, nearly 1,000 less than a year ago, according to Marcus & Millchap's SeniorsHousing...

Sunrise Senior Living Inc. did not act inappropriately with respect to stock sales or the timing of stock options grants, according to an independent review panel appointed by the company's board.(Business Briefs)
November 1, 2007... Sunrise Senior Living Inc. did not act inappropriately with respect to stock sales or the timing of stock options grants, according to an independent review panel appointed by the company's board. Meanwhile, the Securities & Exchange Commission...

National Healthcare Corp.'s profits rose by 15%, to about $12 million, for the fiscal quarter ending June 30.(Business Briefs)(Financial report)
November 1, 2007... National Healthcare Corp.'s profits rose by 15%, to about $12 million, for the fiscal quarter ending June 30. Earnings per diluted share increased to 92 cents, compared to 80 cents in the same quarter last year. Revenues expanded by 6% to...

Execs: private equity views resident care as a priority.(NEWS: Companies)
November 1, 2007... Skilled nursing leaders defended their care practices in the wake of a New York Times story blasting private equity firms that have recently bought facilities. "I want people to know we are concerned about the quality of care," Larry...

Manor Care sale voted in.(NEWS: Companies)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Shareholders of Manor Care Inc. last month approved the $6.3 billion sale, including debt, of the nursing home chain to The Carlyle Group, a global private equity firm. The approval met with resistance from the Service Employees...

Payment proposals.(Good month)
November 1, 2007... Payment proposals: The American Health Care Association and the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care were preparing at press time a plan on ways for payors to better reimburse facilities for services. The AHCA annual meeting recently...

Flu shots.(Good month)
November 1, 2007... Flu shots: A report in the Oct. 4 New England Journal of Medicine showed that flu shots reduced the risk of hospitalization for pneumonia and flu by 27% and shrank the risk of death by 48% for elderly members of three health maintenance...

Capitalization rates.(Good month)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Capitalization rates: Nursing home operators seeking capital can expect to encounter higher cap rates in the years ahead, according to Alan Greenspan. The former Federal Reserve Chairman, speaking at the annual National Investment Center for...

Chronic kidney disease.(Good month)
November 1, 2007... Chronic kidney disease: The ailment contributes more strongly than older age to the high prevalence of anemia in older nursing home residents, according to a study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Metro monitor.(NEWS: Companies)(Table)
November 1, 2007... The average skilled nursing occupancy rates for the top and bottom metropolitan areas (as of second quarter 2007). Leaders Rank Market Change 1 New York 95.5% 2 ...

Long-term care facilities will need to embrace technology more aggressively, according to Newt Gingrich, who spoke last month at the annual conference sponsored by the National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing and Care industry.(IT Update)(Conference news)
November 1, 2007... Long-term care facilities will need to embrace technology more aggressively, according to Newt Gingrich, who spoke last month at the annual conference sponsored by the National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing and Care industry. He...

Healthcare information technology improves the quality of long-term care by improving data and networking.(IT Update)
November 1, 2007... Healthcare information technology improves the quality of long-term care by improving data and networking, but full implementation will impact all healthcare sectors, requiring wide collaboration, according to a new report from BearingPoint...

The Medicare program.(IT Update)
November 1, 2007... The Medicare program will begin rejecting claims that contain legacy provider identifiers early next year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced. At that time, the contingency program that has enabled providers this year to...

Providers and the healthcare industry as a whole need to do more to assess the security risks associated with the use of electronic records systems, a new report from the eHealth Vulnerability Reporting Program suggests.(IT Update)
November 1, 2007... Providers and the healthcare industry as a whole need to do more to assess the security risks associated with the use of electronic records systems, a new report from the eHealth Vulnerability Reporting Program suggests. Commercial electronic...

Japan's experience showing that seniors favor simplicity.(NEWS: Technology)
November 1, 2007... What's happening in Japan might serve as a cautionary tale about implementing technology-based tools in American eldercare facilities. Consider the fate of Ifbot, a robot that can converse, sing, express emotions and give trivia quizzes....

"I couldn't live without ...".(NEWS: Technology)(St. Joseph Convent retirement and nursing home)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Using specialized software to schedule the nursing staff at St. Joseph Convent retirement and nursing home is easy and affordable. It's also a time-saver Marilyn Fuller says she couldn't do without. Fuller, a...

Bill would hasten probes.(WEST)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... CALIFORNIA -- The Legislature passed a bill that would require the state Department of Public Health to fully investigate most complaints against nursing homes within 40 business days. Data from the California Department of Public Health...

Facility smoking ban ignites controversy.(NORTH CAROLINA)
November 1, 2007... A new law that outlaws smoking in the state's nursing homes and assisted living facilities--while well-intentioned--presents problems, critics say. Under the new law, which took effect Oct. 1, smoking will be allowed only outside of "fully...

Shuttered facilities receive funds.(NORTHEAST)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... NEW YORK -- Seven nursing homes and 23 hospitals set to close or merge with other facilities at the state's behest will receive more than $360 million. The funds will be used to pay for legal costs associated with the closures and to pay debts,...

Medicaid co-payment delay.(NORTHEAST)
November 1, 2007... RHODE ISLAND --The state has delayed a new regulation that will require about 14,000 Medicaid beneficiaries to contribute co-payments for prescription drugs. The cause for the delay stems from the state's decision to exempt from the...

CMS extends TennCare waiver.(SOUTHEAST)
November 1, 2007... TENNESSEE -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has approved a three-year extension of a waiver for TennCare, the state's expanded Medicaid program, which covers Medicaid long-term care. The new waiver will allow TennCare to pay...

Grant allows for LTC alternatives.(SOUTHEAST)
November 1, 2007... KENTUCKY -- The federal Department of Health and Human Services awarded a grant of more than $330,000 to keep state residents out of nursing homes. The state will match the grant with $136,000 to launch the nursing home diversion program,...

Group home owner arrested.(MIDWEST)
November 1, 2007... MISSOURI -- The owner of a southwest Missouri group home where 11 people died in a fire a year ago was arrested on a federal Medicaid fraud charge. Robert Dupont, 62, has been accused of operating residential care facilities despite a...

State to pass estate recovery law.(MIDWEST)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... MICHIGAN -- Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D) signed an estate recovery program bill into law. The law requires the state Department of Community Health to create a program to recoup costs paid by Medicaid for people who live in nursing homes or...

Governor forms health IT board.(MIDWEST)(Ted Strickland, information technology)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... OHIO -- Gov. Ted Strickland (D) created a state advisory board to help reduce healthcare costs through information technology. The Information Partnership Advisory Board will bring together representatives from public and private sectors to...

Gift law affects drug makers.(MIDWEST)
November 1, 2007... MINNESOTA -- A new law that limits gifts from pharmaceutical companies could be a template for laws in other states. The law, which has been in effect since 2005, limits gifts from companies to physicians to a value of $50 annually. It has...

Sex offenders trouble facilities.(SOUTHWEST)
November 1, 2007... OKLAHOMA -- About 30 sex offenders reside in nursing homes here - a record number for the state, according to a state House subcommittee. The figure is based on data compiled by Wes Bledsoe, head of A Perfect Cause, a nonprofit group based...

Tort reform encourages providers.(SOUTHWEST)
November 1, 2007... TEXAS -- The perception of a friendlier litigation climate is luring more doctors to the state, In 2004, Gov. Rick Perry (R) signed into law a bill that caps noneconomic damages in malpractice suits at $250,000 for nursing homes,...

Ask the legal expert.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
November 1, 2007... What are the most important lessons from the trial of the Manganos, the New Orleans facility owners who didn't evacuate for Hurricane Katrina and were recently acquitted of negligent homicide charges? The primary lesson to be learned is...

Report: malpractice claims slowing, expenses growing.(NEWS: Legal Matters)(Report)
November 1, 2007... The number of malpractice claims in long-term care has dropped steadily over the last five years, according to a new report. "Claims in long-term care have declined in frequency over the last few years, which is consistent with what we've...

Court: 'custodial' care won't be covered.(NEWS: Legal Matters)
November 1, 2007... A federal court ruled that a Wisconsin nursing home is not entitled to reimbursement for the services it provided to a resident because the care was later deemed medically unnecessary. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of...

PointClickCare.(Company Briefs)
November 1, 2007... PointClickCare is in the process of acquiring Integrity Group. The acquisition will allow PointClickCare to better meet customers' IT needs, according to the firm.

Vocollect Healthcare Systems.(Company Briefs)
November 1, 2007... Vocollect Healthcare Systems has announced the launch of AccuNurse Version 2.0, an updated documentation system.

Briggs Corporation.(Company Briefs)
November 1, 2007... Briggs Corporation has released a manual designed to help nursing facilities avoid fines and negative publicity related to accidents. The manual responds to recently released federal guidelines.

RehabCare Group.(Company Briefs)
November 1, 2007... RehabCare Group has announced a new three-year supply agreement with Premier Inc. RehabCare will participate in educational forums and conferences and will connect with Premier regional offices.

Billian's HealthDATA.(Company Briefs)
November 1, 2007... Billian's HealthDATA recently completed updates to its Long Term-Care and Assisted Living Facilities databases.

Procter & Gamble.(Company Briefs)
November 1, 2007... Procter & Gamble's CEO said the firm is "designed to grow for the short, mid and long term--consistently, reliably and sustainably." P&G is a major provider of goods and services in the eldercare market.

Optio Healthcare.(Company Briefs)
November 1, 2007... Optio Healthcare is partnering with DTE Consulting to implement Optio forms management and document automation services at healthcare facilities.

Northrop Grumman.(Company Briefs)
November 1, 2007... Northrop Grumman announced that it has won a 10-year, $4 billion enterprise system development contract from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to help the agency modernize services, improve health-care quality and reduce costs.

Thomson Healthcare.(Company Briefs)
November 1, 2007... Thomson Healthcare's NexProfiler Treatment Options Tool for Asthma has been enhanced to incorporate the step therapy approach to medication use and asthma control. The approach is recommended by the National Asthma Education and Prevention...

Luthern Senior Services.(Company Briefs)
November 1, 2007... Luthern Senior Services announced that it has partnered with Silverchair Learning Systems to provide training and a comprehensive learning management system to their employees, beginning in January.

More lenders losing jobs as subprime meltdown expands.(NEWS: Vendors)
November 1, 2007... If your lender is not returning calls lately, it might be because he or she is no longer with the company. As a subprime meltdown continues, more banks and financial institutions are reducing staff. Should the trend continue--and there are...

Care.com launching senior care directory.(NEWS: Vendors)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Care.com has hunched a senior care directory--an online resource that identifies state-by-state eldercare planning information and caregivers. "With the U.S. senior population estimated to grow to 77 million people by the end of this...