Regulatory Compliance

Who should do medication reconciliation safety: RNs, LPN or both?

Registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) have different skills and work processes when it comes to medication reconciliation, say researchers at the University of Missouri. Read More »

$5M lawsuit filed in Ga. retirement community fire

The legal troubles continue over the June fire at Marshall Square Retirement Community, Evans, Ga., which killed one resident and displaced more than 80, as a new lawsuit alleges flawed management and a dangerous "shelter in place" policy. Read More »

Texas ALF settles fire sprinkler suit

The owners of a Fort Worth, Texas assisted living complex learn the cost of sprinkler system violations. Read More »

Connecticut to require comprehensive employee background check for long-term care facilities

The state Department of Public Health launched an applicant background check Web portal designed to protect residents and help long-term care providers identify offenders who might not be suited to work at their facilities. Read More »

CA advocates sue to stop illegal unloading of nursing home residents

California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform and three nursing home residents have filed a lawsuit against the state saying it is allegedly illegally allowing residents to be "dumped" from nursing homes to hospitals. Read More »

New budget includes significant increases for OSHA violations

The new budget signed this week includes hefty increases in fines for occupational  (OSHA) violations Read More »

CMS issues proposed rule for patient preferences in discharge summaries

The proposal would affect long-term care hospitals, inpatient facilities and home health agencies that participate in CMS reimbursement programs. Read More »

UPDATE U.S. Senate passes budget bill to avert shutdown, keep 2% Medicare cuts

With Senate passage, the bill retains the reimbursement cuts created by the sequstration in 2011. Read More »

Report: New regs are a bitter pill for LTC pharmacies

Long-term care pharmacies provide crucial senior-specific medication management services to skilled nursing facilities. But will the current regulatory environment drive independent LTC pharmacies out of business? Read More »

Former assisted living CEO ordered to pay $4.2M in occupancy fraud case

Former Assisted Living Concepts CEO Laurie Bebo was convicted of multiple violations of securities laws. Read More »

Mastering the new SNF regs to maximize reimbursement

The new skilled nursing facility regulations under the IMPACT Act are coming. Has your facility adopted the best processes and attitudes to maximize reimbursement? Policy experts explain why sticking to the old status quo on processes won't be good enough. Read More »

Calif. governor signs ‘right to die’ bill

The controversial bill will allow physicians in the state to prescribe life-ending medications to those with a terminal illness who wish to end their lives. Read More »

AHCA/NCAL opening session: Team leadership, quality improvement needed in changing times

The opening general session of the AHCA/NCAL Annual Conference and Expo focused on the importance of cross-discipline teamwork, with special highlights on the role of the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). Read More »

Germ Warfare: Reduce antibiotic misuse

Antibiotic misuse is a growing problem in skilled nursing settings. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention have issued new recommendations to improve infection prevention programs. Read More »

CMS releases v1.13 of the RAI User’s Manual

The newly released RAI includes ICD-10 coding information and other clarifications. Read More »

EPA proposes new hazardous waste status for long-term care facilities

The EPA considers changing hazardous waste classification for LTC facility from household to healthcare facility-specific management standards. Read More »

AHCA/NCAL: New CMS nursing home regulations ‘simply too much’

The new proposed rules from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are not sitting well with the head of the American Health Care Association, who says they will takes years and extraordinary cost to implement. Read More »

Judge acquits former ACHCA chair of alleged corruption charges

In 2014, Larry Slatky was charged with allegedly giving a laundry contract for a publicly run nursing home to a friend's company instead of hiring the lowest bidder. Read More »

PHI names new federal affairs director

The Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute (PHI), one of the nation's key policy advocates for the direct-care workforce, welcomes Daniel Rutherford Wilson as its new director of federal affairs. Read More »

Regulators: 13 Massachusetts nurses commit license fraud

State regulators revoked or suspended the licenses of 13 nurses after discovering that the caregivers lied about having nursing degrees or being licensed in other states. Read More »

Omnicare wins $300M alleged fraud case

Omnicare was accused of offering "illegal remuneration to skilled nursing facilities in exchange for referrals to its pharmacy business." Read More »

Calif. legislature passes right-to-die bill

California’s State Assembly passed a right-to-die bill Wednesday that could have monumental impact on hospice and long-term care processes in the state, especially in terms of late-stage dementia care. The bill now moves on to the State Senate. Read More »

ALFA, ASHA: Proposed changes to labor exemptions will be ‘harmful to industry’

The Department of Labor’s proposed changes to the way "exempt employees" are defined and the minimum salary requirements exemptions for certain categories of employees and institute minimum salary requirements for exempt status will do more harm than good in the senior care market, say two of the nation’s senior living associations. Read More »

CMS unveils 4-year plan to improve health equity

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services releases six priorities to reduce health disparities among Medicare beneficiaries over the next four years. Read More »

GAO to conduct review of Nursing Home Compare tool

After being scrutinized by senators in three states, the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) has agreed to conduct a review of the Nursing Home Compare tool. Read More »

California SNF and two staff charged with involuntary manslaughter

California Attorney General has filed involuntary manslaughter charges against a skilled nursing and wellness center for failing to provide requisite nursing care to a resident resulting in his death. Read More »

Illinois passes law allowing family video surveillance, monitoring in resident rooms

State lawmakers have made it legal for residents and their families to install their own “granny cams” and other recording devices in resident rooms to monitor care and other activities. Read More »

NADONA’s Dornberger nominated to antibiotics council

In a concentrated effort to halt the spread and severity of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, an advisory council will be assembled to combat this serious health threat Read More »

SNFs repond to the new MDS-focused survey process

Have you experienced this new surveyor process yet? Be ready for scrutiny of your ADL services and documentation. Read More »

MA nursing homes must meet standards to advertise dementia care

Massachusetts nursing homes are no longer allowed to advertise memory care services unless they meet specific state standards for care. Will this become a trend nationwide? Read More »