Latest articles from McKnight's Long Term Care News

Changes to Medicare physician pay key to healthcare reform, analysis suggests

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Substantial changes to the Medicare benefit will be needed to affect any real reform or cost savings, and to ensure the program's future solvency, a news analysis suggests. That includes linking doctors' pay to improving patients' health.

Alzheimer's Foundation teams with tech firm Samarion to improve dementia care

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 05:20:00 GMT

The Alzheimer's Foundation of America, a national nonprofit advocacy group that also trains healthcare workers in dementia care, has teamed with Samarion Inc., a private healthcare technology company, in an effort to improve Alzheimer's care.

Young adults with strong language skills at lower risk for Alzheimer's later, research suggests

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 05:30:00 GMT

A study from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore suggests that "20-somethings" with highly developed language skills are less likely to have Alzheimer's disease in old age, even if they develop the hallmark brain tangles that typically lead to dementia.

Editors' Blog: Survey uncovers Five-Star's failings

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 05:30:00 GMT

A new survey by Holleran finds that a nursing home's Five-Star scores do not reflect families' and residents' satisfaction levels. Providers, who have been criticizing the system for months, likely are not surprised.

60 Seconds with...

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:35:49 GMT

Lyn Bentley, Director of Regulatory Services, American Health Care Association

Regulators consider adding satisfaction surveys to nursing home rating system

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Federal regulators are meeting with nursing home operators and other key stakeholders today to discuss ways in which resident and family satisfaction surveys might be factored into the new facility Five-Star Quality Rating System.

CBO: market-basket freeze for skilled nursing could add up to billions in savings

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 05:20:00 GMT

The federal government can expect to save roughly $26 billion in Medicare costs over 10 years in part by freezing the market-basket update for skilled nursing facilities in fiscal year 2010, according to a new analysis from the Congressional Budget Office.

Effective delirium treatments continue to elude researchers

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 05:30:00 GMT

Delirium during hospitalization affects up to seven million adults every year, increases the likelihood of needing post-acute or nursing home care and doubles a patient's risk of death. And, according to a new study, there is no way to prevent or treat it.

Letter asks House chairmen to remove proposed skilled nursing cuts from healthcare reform bill

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 05:00:00 GMT

A draft of House healthcare reform legislation is set to slice $44.9 billion in nursing home funding over the next decade, according to a group of senior care advocates. The coalition sent a letter to powerful House leaders urging them to reconsider such cuts.

GAO: Medicaid money, other stimulus funding not being used properly

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 05:20:00 GMT

So far, states have received roughly $29 billion in stimulus funds, more than 90% of which is supposed to go to Medicaid and a fund for education, public safety and other services. But according to a new report, much of that money isn't going to the intended recipients.

Cognitive tests don't differentiate between Alzheimer's, vascular dementia, study finds

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 05:30:00 GMT

Less than 2% of the most common neuropsychological tests can differentiate between Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia, according to a recently published report.

Sebelius praises CLASS Act

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The Senate proposal to create a national long-term care disability insurance program Tuesday gained the key support of President Obama and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

Medicare waiting period hurts those with early-stage Alzheimer's, report finds

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 05:10:00 GMT

Early-onset Alzheimer's disease strikes before a person is old enough to qualify for Medicare, leaving many without health insurance. But advocates of those with the disease are lobbying to change that, according to recent news reports.

Study: Older Americans score better than English counterparts on memory test

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 05:20:00 GMT

When it comes to memory and awareness, older Americans are demonstrably more "with it" than the English, new research shows.

Editors' Blog: A 'CLASS-Y' Act, Obama says

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 05:30:00 GMT

Praise keeps coming for the CLASS Act. It gained the support of the Obama administration and AARP Tuesday.

Five-Star makes complaints against nursing homes even more serious

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:16:02 GMT

Nursing homes have a difficult enough time contending with the survey and certification system. Now that the Five-Star Quality Rating System has begun, they have to work even harder to protect themselves against the faulty survey process.