Culture Change

HUD gives $26 million for assisted living conversions

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is paying apartment owners in nine states to convert their buildings to assisted living units. Read More »

When high-tech meets low-tech

We’ve got high-tech flooring sensors, in-room monitors for falls management and remote home monitoring.. . but wait—did we forget to redesign the stairs? Today's IOM meeting in Washington, D.C., provides a backdrop for good discussions on technology, health space design and mission. Read More »

IOM’s “Fostering Independence and Healthy Aging Through Technology” conference

Long-term Living’s coverage from today’s "Public Workshop on Fostering Independence and Healthy Aging through Technology" in Washington, D.C.: Senior services leaders present the issues of “assistance technology” to keep seniors mobile and independent. Read More »

AHCA: Medicaid payment shortfalls projected at $7 billion for 2012

A new report released today by the American Health Care Association shows historic shortfalls in what Medicaid pays and what skilled nursing care actually costs. Read More »

ONC releases final EMR testing specs for 2014

No more guessing: After months of drafting and reviewing, the Final Testing Method for electronic medical records (EMRs) has been published by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). Read More »

Working with Workflow: Long-term care’s EMR Technology

Will your EMR grow along with you? Does your information system understand you facility's workflow? Senior care technology expert John Derr explains how to assess workflow amid information technology changes and upgrades. Read More »

Medicare policies complicate aging-in-place strategies

If aging-in-place is on the rise, why is it becoming more difficult for stay-at-home seniors to get mobility equipment? Read More »

HHS says no to full funding for partial Medicaid expansions

The Department of Health & Human Services clarified its position Monday on funding ratios for state Medicaid expansions and published an extensive FAQ list on state health insurance exchanges. Read More »

Washington Update: Medicare, ‘doc-fix’ and the ‘fiscal cliff’

Healthcare policy expert Blair Childs, vice president for public affairs at Premier healthcare alliance, gives his "insider impressions" of what’s happening on the Hill regarding a possible "doc-fix," Medicare funding, and possible Affordable Care Act policy changes as the deadline clock ticks down on the fiscal cliff. Read More »

Deinstitutionalized dining in LTC

Eliminating tray service in the dining room has deinstitutionalized meal times. Resident satisfaction has soared and Winchester Rehabilitation and Nursing has saved money. Read More »

A positive outlook on aging aids in recovery from disabilities

Maintaining a positive outlook on aging helps many seniors recover from disabilities and extend independence, study finds Read More »

BREAKING: GOP returns with counter-offer to avert ‘fiscal cliff’

Speaker of the House John Boehner delivered a new proposal to solve the budget crisis this afternoon-- including billions in healthcare cuts. Read More »

TN hospice takes the lead on palliative quality reporting

A Nashville hospice care provider has become the first hospice organization in the country to publicize its care quality data, raising the bar for others in the palliative care industry. Read More »

E-prescribing reaches milestone adoption

The use of electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) has skyrocketed in the past four years, thanks in part to the meaningful use objectives. Read More »

OIG to CMS: Get tougher on EHR incentive verifications

There are plenty of potential holes in the Meaningful Use incentives programs for electronic health records—and too many temptations for cheating, says a new OIG report. Read More »

Brain fitness, risk and safety

The elderly can benefit from the “use it or lose it” tenet of good geriatric practice, which encourages them to make choices from among meaningful alternatives. This practice requires no special technology because it’s what we do countless times every day. Read More »

Thinking outside the box

The status quo never inspired innovation. Dr. Tellis-Nayak, a medical sociologist and Senior Research Advisor at the National Research Corporation, explains why improving long-term care means being willing to look beyond "the way things are" and considering the way things could be. Read More »

Short-term rehab soars to No. 1 service in SNFs

Still think the majority of residents at skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are grannies? Not anymore. Check out the fastest-growing demographic in today’s LTC market. Read More »

Michigan moves forward with culture change

Michigan has made a commitment to culture change. PHI serves as the convener for this multi-stakeholder group that includes resident advocates, provider associations, government agencies, culture change advocates and employee organizations. Read More »

BREAKING: HHS releases proposed rules for state insurance premiums, workplace wellness programs

The release of today's proposed rules brings the Department of Health & Human Services a few steps closer in building the rules for state health exchanges (HIX). Read More »

BREAKING: Health exchanges: Holdout states get last-minute reprieve

Today was to be decision day for states on whether they intend to participate in the new state health exchange program, but an eleventh-hour extension from Health and Human Services Secretary Sebelius gives the remaining eight states another few weeks to decide. Read More »

2012 LTC rate report: Nursing homes reach $90k, market ripe for adult day services

Skilled nursing facility private room rates rose by 3.8 percent compared to last year, reaching a national average of $90,520 per year. But two sectors of long-term care had no cost increases at all, according to the annual survey from MetLife Mature Market. Read More »

HHS submits rules for state insurance exchange benefits

The Department of Health and Human Services has submitted another rulemaking piece on state health insurance exchanges to the Office of Management and Budget—the last step before publication. Read More »

AHCA launches Ad firestorm at Congress: No Medicare/Medicaid cuts

Long-term care organizations are using an aggressive advertising campaign to tell Congress to end the deep cuts to Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements. Read More »

Providers get $8.36 billion in Meaningful Use payouts for EHR goals

Under the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Meaningful Use incentive program for the use of electronic health records, eligible providers have received more than $8 billion in incentive payouts since the program began in early 2011, according to this week's report. Read More »

Post-acute care market awaits Allscripts’ fate

Just as documentation requirements begin to heat up, healthcare technology circles are abuzz as executives confirm that electronic medical record system vendor Allscripts Healthcare Solutions may be up for sale. Read More »

What President Obama’s re-election means for the future of long-term care

The votes are in: The Obama Administration now has four more years to further the healthcare initiatives begun under the 2010 Affordable Care Act. So, what happens next? Long-term care leaders, providers and industry experts weigh in on the implications of President Obama's reelection for the U.S. healthcare system and, specifically, the LTC industry. Read More »

What are your employees’ most expensive health risk factors?

A recent study links almost one-quarter of employer/employee health spending to a list of just 10 health risks. What’s the No. 1 health risk? Surprise: It’s not smoking. Read More »

ACA health benefits: Some employers rethink their workforce to avoid paying

The new employee benefits rules created under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) don’t go into effect until Jan. 1, 2014, but some employers are making changes to their workforce structures already, hoping to avoid the the coverage changes and penalties. Read More »

LTC transitions of care: Get collaborative or play catch-up, says national TOC group

Are transitions of care on your mind? You’re not alone. Read our on-site coverage of the National Transitions of Care Coalition (NTOCC) Midwest Regional Summit, held this month in Cleveland, for tips and free tools to improve your TOC efforts. Read More »