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

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

Beverly in eye of bidding war.
September 1, 2005... Beverly Enterprises officials announced they liked a new buy-out offer one day after they had declared a winning bid. As a result, Formation Capital, which earlier had attempted a hostile takeover, became the front-runner in the auction of...

Providers blindsided by CMS vaccine rule.
September 1, 2005... Providers are up in arms about federal health officials' new rule mandating flu and pneumonia vaccinations for all nursing home residents. The Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services blindsided providers with the issuance of a rule, and...

Feds putting focus on LTC.
September 1, 2005... The Department of Health and Human Services would create a new agency that focuses on long-term care issues, under a proposal to be considered in December at the White House Conference on Aging. There is debate within the nursing community...

ALFs soared, SNFs didn't.(NEWS)(assisted living facility trends)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The number of nursing home beds rose 7% between 1990 and 2002. However, assisted living saw a 97% increase during the same period, a new study has found. Percentage-wise, the number of residential care and assisted living beds rose from 21...

New smell test sniffs out AD.(NEWS)(Alzheimer's disease)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Giving residents with mild mental impairment a 10-item smell test may reveal if they are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, researchers say. Investigators tested more than 300 people to narrow down identifiers from the 40-item...

New RUGs angering some, OK for others.(NEWS)
September 1, 2005... The head of the country's second--largest nursing home association ripped into final Medicare payment refinements recently, even as others in the nursing community praised them. "The new system perversely encourages IVs, others will have an...

SEIU flight may fuel campaigns.(NEWS)(Service Employees International Union)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Two major labor unions--Service Employees International Union and Teamsters--recently announced their separation from the AFL-CIO. They cited the failure of the labor federation to bolster flagging union membership. The United Food and...

The Medicaid Commission has voted to approve $11 billion in program cuts over five years.(At deadline)
September 1, 2005... The Medicaid Commission has voted to approve $11 billion in program cuts over five years. Two of their six recommendations would target asset-divestiture loopholes. Such crackdowns would reduce Medicaid outlays by up to $1.6 billion over five...

The National Conference of State Legislatures approved a controversial measure that urges Congress to give states more Medicaid-program authority.(At deadline)
September 1, 2005... The National Conference of State Legislatures approved a controversial measure that urges Congress to give states more Medicaid--program authority, especially for long-term care services.

A series of "person directed long-term care standards" is being developed by CARF-CCAC.(At deadline)
September 1, 2005... A series of "person directed long-term care standards" is being developed by CARF-CCAC. The new standards are scheduled to be available Oct. 1. Once complete, they will be available at www.carf.org/aging.

Medicare plans to fund an adult-day care pilot program, to see if better care and lower costs result.(At deadline)
September 1, 2005... Medicare plans to fund an adult-day care pilot program, to see if better care and lower costs result. The three-year experiment sets aside up to $15 million for home care agencies that send nurses to adult day care centers.

60 seconds with ... Diane Newman.(NEWS)(Interview)
September 1, 2005... Q: The changes to F-Tag 315 (incontinence and catheters) have been called tougher than the pressure ulcers tag. Would you agree? A: I think it's going to be tough for some providers. Many providers don't understand incontinence because they...

ACHCA taps former staffer Burton as its top executive.(NEWS)(American College of Health Care Administrators)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The American College of Health Care Administrators (ACHCA) has named Susan Allen Burton, CAE, to be its next president and chief executive officer. "I am thrilled to be back at ACHCA," Burton said. One of her first challenges will be...

Report: states lacking on aide checks.(NEWS)(hiring nurse aides)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Many long-term care operators fail to meet federal requirements when hiring nurse aides, the Office of Inspector General has found. A recent report found that more than half (55 %) of long-term care administrators check only their state's...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has proposed a rule allowing healthcare providers excluded from Medicare to request a waiver.(Regulatory Update)
September 1, 2005... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has proposed a rule allowing healthcare providers excluded from Medicare to request a waiver--if they can show the exclusion would pose a hardship for beneficiaries.

Treating elderly patients with current clinical practice guidelines might be harmful, a new study warns.(Regulatory Update)
September 1, 2005... Treating elderly patients with current clinical practice guidelines might be harmful, a new study warns. That's because guidelines address single disorders, but the elderly usually have multiple diseases, according to a report published in the...

Rep. Ben Cardin (D-MD) has introduced legislation reversing the exclusion of benzodiazepines--a class of drugs that helps with seizures, insomnia and acute anxiety (e.g. Valium, Halcion, Xanax)--from required coverage under the new Medicare Prescription Drug Program (Part D).(Bill Watch)
September 1, 2005... * Rep. Ben Cardin (D-MD) has introduced legislation reversing the exclusion of benzodiazepines--a class of drugs that helps with seizures, insomnia and acute anxiety (e.g. Valium, Halcion, Xanax)--from required coverage under the new Medicare...

A new bill in the Senate would offer an above-the-line tax deduction and a phased-in tax credit.(Bill Watch)
September 1, 2005... * A new bill in the Senate would offer an above-the-line tax deduction and a phased-in tax credit of up to $3,000 for those who purchase a "qualified" long-term care insurance policy.

Ask: the care expert.(NEWS / Resident Care)
September 1, 2005... Should a nurse tell or remind a resident that he or she is in the early stages of a dementia? Openly discussing the diagnosis of a dementia with the affected resident not only is ethically right from the standpoint of nurses being truthful...

Multiple clinical practice guides may harm elderly.(NEWS / Resident Care)
September 1, 2005... If clinical practice guidelines are used to treat elderly patients with multiple illnesses, they could have unintended effects, a new study reports. The guidelines, which address single disorders, are not compatible with older patients who...

Study: obese seniors disabled longer.(NEWS / Resident Care)
September 1, 2005... Severely overweight elderly people can expect to live about as long as their thinner counterparts, but they have a greater chance of being disabled for a longer period of time before death, researchers say. They reported the following...

Diabetes increases the risk of fractures in the elderly, a new study in the Archives of Internal Medicine says.(Caregiving Update)
September 1, 2005... Diabetes increases the risk of fractures in the elderly, a new study in the Archives of Internal Medicine says. People in their 70s have a more than 60% higher risk of fractures if they have type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease,...

A Chinese exercise technique of walking on cobblestones is a good way for older people to improve their physical health.(Caregiving Update)
September 1, 2005... A Chinese exercise technique of walking on cobblestones is a good way for older people to improve their physical health. It results in lower blood pressure, among other benefits, according to the study slated to appear in The Journal of the...

Plaque build-up in the arteries affects thinking but does not contribute to depression in the elderly, a new study says.(Caregiving Update)
September 1, 2005... Plaque build-up in the arteries affects thinking but does not contribute to depression in the elderly, a new study says. As plaque build-up grew, thinking ability, attention levels and mental reaction speed declined, according to the study...

Australian researchers identified a toxin called quinolinic acid that plays a role in the onset of Alzheimer's disease.(Caregiving Update)
September 1, 2005... Australian researchers identified a toxin called quinolinic acid that plays a role in the onset of Alzheimer's disease. The toxin kills nerve cells in the brain, leading to dysfunction and death. This discovery could pave the way for the...

Ask: the treatment expert.(NEWS / Wound Care)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... What would you change about the way compression dressings and leg wraps are performed by many nursing home caregivers? Here are some pearls of wisdom about compression wraps: * Correct wrapping technique: Start from base of toes,...

Staph infections create additional care burdens.(NEWS / Wound Care)
September 1, 2005... Staphylococcus aureus--better known as staph--infections create an additional burden to nursing homes and hospitals by significantly increasing costs, length of resident stays and even mortality rates, researchers say. Dr. Gary Noskin...

Stress slows healing, but oxygen helps.(NEWS / Wound Care)
September 1, 2005... Wound healing is slow when an animal is stressed, but extra oxygen almost completely reverses the effect, researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago have found. In a study of laboratory mice, Phillip Marucha, professor of...

Biopharmaceuticals Inc. reported receiving the first European patent related to its Thymosin beta 4 (TB4) wound healing technology.(Treatment Update)
September 1, 2005... Biopharmaceuticals Inc. reported receiving the first European patent related to its Thymosin beta 4 (TB4) wound healing technology. The National Institutes of Health has indicated TB4 is effective in accelerating dermal and corneal wound...

Advanced medical biosystems company Covalon Technologies Ltd. (Covalon) announced the launch of Covalon's Collagen wound dressings.(Treatment Update)
September 1, 2005... Advanced medical biosystems company Covalon Technologies Ltd. (Covalon) announced the launch of Covalon's Collagen wound dressings. Covalon will distribute Covalon collagen wound dressings and antimicrobial silver collagen wound dressings under...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced a new initiative.(Treatment Update)
September 1, 2005... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced a new initiative, Medicare Health Support, designed to help beneficiaries with diabetes and congestive heart failure reduce their health risks and also protect their quality of life.

CardioVascular BioTherapeutics Inc. announced that its preclinical animal studies showed positive results for its drug candidate Cardio Vascu-Grow.(Treatment Update)
September 1, 2005... CardioVascular BioTherapeutics Inc. announced that its preclinical animal studies showed positive results for its drug candidate Cardio Vascu-Grow. Studies done on diabetic, treated mice showed their wounds healed faster than other mice,...

Ask: the nursing expert.(NEWS / Nursing)
September 1, 2005... How can I deal with being afraid to take more than a few short days off at a time because no one wants to be in charge while I am away? The strongest goal that I could possibly achieve as director of a nursing department is that when I am...

Immigration reform seen as way to boost staffing.(NEWS / Nursing)
September 1, 2005... Industry officials and other advocates of immigration reform see it as a way to bring more nurses into long-term care facilities. But experts agree that President Bush will face an uphill battle if he continues his push for such changes. ...

Impact of first staffing law scrutinized.(NEWS / Nursing)
September 1, 2005... State-mandated nurse staffing legislation in California has not dramatically affected the incidence of patient falls or the prevalence of pressure ulcers, a new study has found. But authors emphasized the preliminary nature of these...

In a recent online article in the European Heart Journal German scientists are asking designers of heart disease trials to recruit more female test subjects to better show whether women respond to drugs differently than men.(Medication Update)
September 1, 2005... In a recent online article in the European Heart Journal German scientists are asking designers of heart disease trials to recruit more female test subjects to better show whether women respond to drugs differently than men. Women are...

Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have found that amphetamines can reverse the symptoms of Parkinson's disease in mice with an acute form of the condition.(Medication Update)
September 1, 2005... Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have found that amphetamines can reverse the symptoms of Parkinson's disease in mice with an acute form of the condition. Researchers cautioned their findings in animals do not mean Parkinson's...

A new study published in the journal Science says memory loss due to Alzheimer's can be reversed.(Medication Update)
September 1, 2005... A new study published in the journal Science says memory loss due to Alzheimer's can be reversed. Researchers found when the production of tau protein was "turned off" in mice bred to develop a progressive dementia similar to Alzheimer's, the...

Ask: the payment expert.(NEWS / Payment & Policy)
September 1, 2005... How can we make sure we are getting the correct payment for residents under the new RUGs III refinement rules? The same systems that you now utilize will continue to be important to you with the RUGs refinement. The nine new RUGs levels are...

Bush seeking increased Medicaid accountability.(NEWS / Payment & Policy)
September 1, 2005... The Bush administration has proposed that states submit in advance their Medicaid spending plans so federal officials can curb questionable practices. Further tightening by federal officials could pressure states--and providers--to do more...

Private Medicare plan OK'd.(NEWS / Payment & Policy)
September 1, 2005... One senior-housing firm has decided it can fund its residents' healthcare better than traditional federal funding programs can. And federal officials are far from offended at the thought: They've given the non-traditional plan their blessing....

Go figure.(NEWS / Payment & Policy)(statistics in the nursing home industry)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... 7 The nation's supply of nursing home beds rose 7%, between 1990 and 2002, according to a study from the University of California-San Francisco. Assisted living and independent living beds increased 97%. 12 Employers' health costs may rise...

Manor Care earnings fell.(Business Briefs)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Manor Care earnings fell 15% during the first half of 2005, due to three major factors: higher provider taxes, lower occupancy and lower gains on divestitures, according to the company. It earned $69.2 million on revenues of $1.7 billion. That...

Kindred Healthcare Inc. tripled.(Business Briefs)
September 1, 2005... Kindred Healthcare Inc. tripled its earnings in the second quarter, but failed to meet company expectations due to operational challenges at its hospital division. Kindred earned $66 million for the quarter on revenues of $1 billion. Its...

Sun Healthcare Group Inc.(Business Briefs)
September 1, 2005... Sun Healthcare Group Inc.'s earnings slipped 5% to $7 million in the second quarter on a 5% increase in sales. Still, quarter-over-quarter improvement at its operating units have resulted in better revenues and net segment income, the company...

Genesis Healthcare Corp. earnings.(Business Briefs)
September 1, 2005... Genesis Healthcare Corp. earnings rose 14% in the fiscal third quarter, even though sales dropped by 9%. Results were in line despite softness in occupancy and a challenging rehabilitation therapy environment, the company's CEO said. Earnings...

Sunrise Senior Living Inc. saw a 32% drop in its earnings in the second quarter on a 17% increase in sales.(Business Briefs)
September 1, 2005... Sunrise Senior Living Inc. saw a 32% drop in its earnings in the second quarter on a 17% increase in sales. Still, second quarter results exceeded the company's outlook. It cited strong revenue growth in its operating portfolio, including...

Ventas Inc. earned $27 million in the second quarter, an increase of 5% compared to the same period last year.(Business Briefs)
September 1, 2005... Ventas Inc. earned $27 million in the second quarter, an increase of 5% compared to the same period last year. Revenues at the Louisville, KY-based real estate investment trust rose 26% to $75 million. Assets leased to its principal tenant,...

Unknowns of Beverly sale have broad implications.(NEWS / Companies)(Beverly Enterprises)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The re-entry of Formation Capital as high bidder for Beverly Enterprises was just the latest turn in a twisting, eight-month saga that earlier had leaders of both companies trading barbs. At press time, it was uncertain whether Formation's...

Health costs up 12.6%?(NEWS / Companies)
September 1, 2005... Long-term care companies may have to pay an average of 12.6% more for employees' health insurance next year, according to a survey by Hewitt Associates. In response, 40% of employers say they are proposing to charge workers higher...

Medicare and Social Security.(Good month)
September 1, 2005... Medicare and Social Security: The Medicare program marked its 40th birthday, while Social Security turned 70. Both programs have dramatically improved living conditions for the nation's elderly.

Patient safety.(Good month)
September 1, 2005... Patient safety: President Bush signed patient-safety legislation that allows providers to voluntarily report medical errors without facing sanctions.

Liability reform.(Good month)
September 1, 2005... Liability reform: The House approved of HR5, which contains medical liability reform provisions. Similar legislation is pending in the Senate.

Consumer insight.(Good month)
September 1, 2005... Consumer insight: The American Health Care Association redesigned its consumer Web site: www.LongTermCareLiving.com.

Beverly employees.(Bad month)
September 1, 2005... Beverly employees: The firm's workers endured an anxious month as its board made conflicting announcements about who its new owners might be.

Obese elderly.(Bad month)
September 1, 2005... Obese elderly: Obese people who reach the age of 70 won't necessarily die sooner than their thinner peers but they have a much greater chance of being disabled for the remainder of their lives, according to a new study from the University of...

HIPAA slackers.(Bad month)
September 1, 2005... HIPAA slackers: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will stop processing non-HIPAA-compliant electronic Medicare claims Oct. 1. Such claims will be returned to the filer for re-submission, according to the agency.

Long-term care organizations will increasingly need to address electronic health records in the years ahead, according to speakers at a recent summit.(IT Update)
September 1, 2005... Long-term care organizations will increasingly need to address electronic health records in the years ahead, according to speakers at a recent summit. IT will play a critical role in improving care, creating greater efficiency and lowering...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released an educational paper on risk analysis and management.(IT Update)
September 1, 2005... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released an educational paper on risk analysis and management. The study is part of an ongoing HIPAA series. To see the report, visit cms.hhs.gov/hipaa/hipaa2.

A White House plan.(IT Update)(cost of electronic health records initiative)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... A White House plan to create a national network of electronic health records could cost more than $200 billion initially to build and operate, researchers say. They predict it would cost $156 billion to build the system and $48 billion each...

Criminal-driven.(IT Update)(computer crime trends)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Criminal-driven security attacks and e-mails with viruses increased 50% in the first half of this year, according to a report released by IBM. Healthcare industries were among the top targets. Most attacks were aimed at extorting funds and...

President Bush.(IT Update)
September 1, 2005... President Bush has signed patient-safety legislation. The new law lets providers voluntarily report medical errors without facing sanctions. The measure also calls on the Department of Health and Human Services to create a data network that...

Jeron Electronic Systems Inc.(IT Update)
September 1, 2005... Jeron Electronic Systems Inc. has signed a three year nurse-call agreement with Novation, the supply company of VHA Inc. and the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC). The group purchasing arrangement allows VHA and UHA-member facilities to...

Grant will help providers link technology and care.(NEWS / Technology)(The Numbers Count: Using MDS Quality Indicators to Improve Resident Outcomes)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... A $1.1 million federal grant will help providers in New York learn better ways to integrate technology and resident care. The research affiliate of the New York Association of Homes and Services for the Aging will use the new funds to better...

"I couldn't live without ...".(NEWS / Technology)
September 1, 2005... Joanne Schwartz speaks confidently about having purchased three defibrillators at Presbyterian Homes at Meadow Lakes, even though her Hightstown, NJ, continuing care retirement community has used them only twice. "We've definitely got our...

Taking the bus route.(CALIFORNIA)(Culture Change Caravan )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Representatives of federal and state agencies and healthcare organizations visited numerous nursing homes around the state in a custom bus in an effort to improve nursing home culture and care. The main objective of the Culture Change...

State rejects clawback payments.(SOUTHWEST)
September 1, 2005... TEXAS -- Gov. Rick Perry (R) says he plans to refuse to pay the federal government his state's initial savings from Medicare's new drug coverage of beneficiaries who also are eligible for Medicaid. Perry also is encouraging other governors...

Sex offender work cut off.(NORTHEAST)
September 1, 2005... NEW HAMPSHIRE -- A nursing home in New Hampshire that employs jail inmates may be forced to change its practices following an incident that provoked complaints from residents' families. Recently, it was discovered that a worker inmate in...

Cracking down on Medicaid waste.(NORTHEAST)
September 1, 2005... NEW YORK -- Gov. George Pataki (R) has established an independent office of the inspector general to crack down on fraud and waste in the state Medicaid program. His actions followed a series of articles recently in the New York Times...

Two-week staff lockout ends.(NORTHEAST)(New England Health Care Employees Union District 1199 at Arden House)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... CONNECTICUT -- More than 250 union nursing home workers who were locked out after refusing an earlier contract offer returned to work Aug. 19 after approving a new contract with the second-largest nursing home in the state. The workers,...

Grant calls for eliminating beds.(NORTHEAST)(nursing home grant)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... PENNSYLVANIA -- A county here recently received a $6 million state grant to renovate its nursing home. But the huge grant comes with a catch: Butler County has to reduce the number of beds in the home by more than 8%, from 240 to 220. The...

CEO says he stole $450,000.(NORTHEAST)(Southwinds Retirement Home's Barry Pehrsson)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... NEW YORK -- A former head of a retirement home admitted to stealing $450,000 from the facility. Barry Pehrsson, former chief executive officer of the Southwinds Retirement Home in Middleton, NY, said he directed the home's chief financial...

Doctor testifies for administrator.(NORTHEAST)(Ronald Reagan Atrium I Nursing and Rehabilitation Center nursing home administrator)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... PENNSYLVANIA - A nursing home medical director came to the defense of an embattled nursing home director on trial for various criminal charges, likening her management style to that of Gen. George Patton's and complimenting her for getting...

Nursing home inspections down.(WEST)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... CALIFORNIA -- The number of nursing home inspections has dropped significantly over 2004, according to a report based on state records. While complaints about the quality of nursing home care to the California Department of Health Services...

Governor backs more in-home care.(SOUTHEAST)
September 1, 2005... TENNESSEE -- Gov. Phil Bredesen hopes to manage TennCare and keep 97,000 of the sickest and neediest enrollees in the program by increasing services for elderly people in their homes. With word that a favorable ruling would be forthcoming...

State crackdown on rule breakers?(SOUTHEAST)(Louisiana regulatory system on nursing homes)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... LOUISIANA -- State officials are looking for recommendations on how to handle nursing facilities that commit violations. A working group of about 20 people from inside and outside the state government will look at how Louisiana's regulatory...

$50k fine for feeding mistake.(MIDWEST)(feeding assistant error in nursing home)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... ILLINOIS -- Both sides in a lawsuit contesting the federal government's new class of feeding-assistant employees may take note of a recent fine handed down against an Addison nursing facility. The state Department of Health slapped a...

Providers fear rules' cost.(MIDWEST)(criminal background checks for nursing home residents)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... ILLINOIS -- State officials unveiled plans for how it intends to enforce a new rule that mandates nursing homes check criminal backgrounds of residents. Providers are wary of the potential price. The cost of the checks, at $16 each, could...

Ask: the legal expert.(NEWS / Legal Matters)(structuring to protect from tort claims)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... In light of rising tort claims, should a company split its operating components from its real estate and other cash assets? Generally, yes. Repositioning corporate assets affords a healthcare corporation the ability to preserve assets for...

Prosecutors flip-flop and release facilities' names.(NEWS / Legal Matters)(settlements on improper care at nursing homes)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Prosecutors decided to release the names of seven Virginia facilities, after hearing protests that their names should not be kept from the public. Patti J. McNulty, U.S. Attorney for Eastern Virginia, had earlier cited confidentiality as a...

Senators told to address asset shifting.(NEWS / Legal Matters)
September 1, 2005... Loopholes that allow non-poor consumers to receive welfare payments for nursing home care need to be eliminated, said Vincent J. Russo, past-president of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. During testimony at a Senate Special...

Admin, DON salaries reach new heights: administrators rise to $76,454, while DONs hit $66,927, according to annual survey.(NEWS / Analysis)(directors of nursing)
September 1, 2005... Median annual salaries for nursing home administrators, directors of nursing and many other top management positions didn't just crawl past last year's record highs. In numerous instances, they leaped past by impressive margins. The...

How to do it ... Hire a consultant.(Business & Marketing)(getting ready for nursing home inspections)
September 1, 2005... Today's nursing home survey inspection process is increasingly intense and demanding, prompting many nursing homes to seek outside assistance from professional-standards consulting services. Superior customer service and an emphasis on customer...

Building the business.(Business & Marketing)(Brandon Woods Retirement Community)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Challenge: Poor surveys Response: New attitude Result: Zero deficiencies CASE STUDY: A year ago, Brandon Woods Retirement Community in Lawrence, KS, received 21 deficiencies during its annual inspection. Executive Director Shannon...