Free Long-Term Care e-Newsletters

Contemporary Long-Term Care Weekly LTC Nursing Assistant Trainer MDS 3.0 Update

Contemporary Long-Term Care Weekly

CLTC Weekly is a free email newsletter that delivers the latest weekly news on the long-term care industry, including important CMS regulatory changes, a tip of the week, and much, much more.

Subscribe »

2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2002

Contemporary Long-Term Care Weekly

Issue 45, November 19, 2009

• Senate bill to include long-term care insurance program

  The Senate health bill, which was drafted using the two bills that previously passed through Senate...

• H1N1 hits Maine facility

  The H1N1 influenza virus has found its way into a long-term care facility in Kennebec County Maine...

• Tip of the week: Recognizing bacteria in long-term care facilities

  Illnesses are common in healthcare settings. Long-term care facilities are no different.

• Quick poll: Which aspect of ambulance billing does your facility struggle with more?

  Quick poll: Which aspect of ambulance billing does your facility struggle with more?

Issue 44, November 12, 2009

• Nursing home tackles Sunday boredom with fantasy football league

  A Massachusetts skilled nursing facility is giving its residents a reason to cheer every Sunday...

• Empathy is key in November, National Alzheimer’s Awareness month

  Empathy allows us to understand people suffering from dementia. Sometimes their way of expressing...

• Tip of the week: Recognizing bacteria in long-term care facilities

  Illnesses are common in healthcare settings. Long-term care facilities are no different.

Issue 43, November 1, 2009

• CMS releases final MDS 3.0 item set

  The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the much anticipated final MDS 3.0...

• Omnicare to pay $98 million to settle kickback charges

  The Justice Department announced on Tuesday that Omnicare Inc., which faced charges involving...

• Study: Action can be taken to reduce dementia risk

  New research published on Monday in the Archives of General Psychiatry suggests that the risk of...

• Tip of the week: Recognizing parasitic agents in long-term care facilities

  Illnesses are common in healthcare settings. Long-term care facilities are no different.

• Quick poll: Does your facility provide frontline staff with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) training?

  Quick poll: Does your facility provide frontline staff with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder...

Issue 42, October 29, 2009

• Debate rages on over long-term care insurance

  Among the many provisions that Congress continues to dispute in working towards healthcare reform...

• National cost of long-term care increases in 2009

  The average cost of a private room at a nursing home is $219 per day, a 3.3% rise from last year...

• Tip of the week: Recognizing viruses in long-term care facilities

  Illnesses are common in healthcare settings. Long-term care facilities are no different. The...

Issue 41, October 22, 2009

• Illinois task force handles concern over nursing home safety

  The Nursing Home Safety Task Force, a group appointed by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn to address the...

• Former nursing home aide ascends to Ugandan throne

  On October 19, President Yoweri Museveni and the people of Uganda recognized Charles Wesley...

• Tip of the week: Understanding basic rules of consolidated billing

  Administrators need to understand a few basic rules when dealing with the consolidated billing...

• Quick poll: How often does your facility receive additional documentation requests (ADRs)?

  Quick poll: How often does your facility receive additional documentation requests (ADRs)?

Issue 40, October 15, 2009

• Senate Finance Committee passes healthcare reform bill

  On October 13, the Senate Finance Committee, which spent the past two weeks discussing 130...

• California nursing homes to post five-star ratings

  Governor Schwarzenegger signed legislation October 11 requiring California nursing homes certified...

• Tip of the week: Things to remember when conducting MDS 3.0 interviews

  The MDS 3.0 will implement new guidelines for conducting interviews that will help capture the...

Issue 39, October 8, 2009

• CMS releases influenza vaccine payment allowances for the 2009-2010 season

  The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released Transmittal 1824 October 2...

• Staff information fair game at New York healthcare facilities

  Beginning March 16, 2010, New York nursing homes and other healthcare facilities will be required...

• Tip of the week: Adhering to advance directives and elder law

  An advance directive is a document in which a person makes provisions for medical care if unable to...

• Quick poll: How does your facility dispose of controlled substances?

  Quick poll: How does your facility dispose of controlled substances?

Issue 38, October 1, 2009

• Hundreds of nursing homes left off poor performance list

  A report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) says hundreds of less than satisfactory...

• H1N1 vaccines out and on the move

  The first shipments of H1N1 vaccine have been sent from the production plants of at least three of...

• Tip of the week: Understand immediate jeopardy violations

  Immediate jeopardy is defined by CMS as, “a situation in which the provider’s...

Issue 37, September 24, 2009

• New report suggests dementia cases to severely increase worldwide

  Alzheimer’s Disease International issued a report warning that the number of global dementia...

• Canadian researchers develop underwear to combat pressure ulcers

  Alberta researchers, led by University of Alberta cell biology professor Vivian Mushahwar, are...

• Tip of the week: Establish a leadership style that works best for the group

  Generally, leadership types can be classified into two categories: instrumental or expressive. The...

• Quick poll: Is your facility concerned with the business associate regulations included in HIPPA?

  Quick poll: Is your facility concerned with the business associate regulations included in HIPPA?

Issue 36, September 17, 2009

• CMS: Code for the seasonal flu vaccine only

  As this year’s flu season rapidly approaches, CMS has instructed nursing facilities to code...

• Baucus bill set to be unveiled

  Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-MT, plans to reveal his much-anticipated healthcare...

• Tip of the week: Get to know the chronic care measure domains

  Increasingly, SNFs must rely on data and data analysis to objectively view the quality of care...

Issue 35, September 10, 2009

• Wisconsin nursing homes face allegations of dispensing drugs illegally

  Federal court documents cite six Wisconsin nursing homes and a pharmaceutical company for...

• Risk of Alzheimer’s may be lowered by alcohol

  After analyzing 15 studies involving more than 28,000 subjects, researchers believe the consumption...

• Tip of the week: Develop policies that address key OSHA compliance issues

  Although all workers are responsible for maintaining compliance with Occupational Safety and Health...

• Quick poll: Has your facility noticed an increase in hospital observation stays longer than three days?

  Quick poll: Has your facility noticed an increase in hospital observation stays longer than three...

Issue 34, September 3, 2009

• Fact sheet explains ICD-9 to ICD-10 transition

  CMS recently released a brief fact sheet, available on their Web site, in the hope of further...

• Long term care symposium attracts national attention at Capitol Hill

  The fourth annual National Long Term Care Symposium, scheduled September 14 at the Russell Senate...

• Tip of the week: Implement and value a safety committee

  An important protocol for administrators to target is establishing a safety committee. The...

Issue 33, August 27, 2009

• Early Alzheimer's could be discovered by MRI

  The Cleveland Clinic recently released a study that suggests hyperactivity occurs in the brain...

• Report warns of extremely hazardous flu season

  An August 25 report from the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology...

• Tip of the week: Getting to know Stage II of the QIS

  During Stage II, state surveyors use the Critical Element Pathways for each triggered care area...

• Quick poll: Approximately what percentage of your residents possess long-term care insurance?

  Quick poll: Approximately what percentage of your residents possess long-term care insurance?

Issue 32, August 20, 2009

• Open registration for DMEPOS competitive bidding

  CMS announced August 17 that suppliers of Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics...

• Congress, health experts continue wait for new CMS administrator

  President Obama’s apparent lack of urgency to name a new leader of CMS during the present...

• Tip of the week: Getting to know Stage I of the QIS

  Stage I is the initial quality assessment to identify care areas and facility-level systems that...

Issue 31, August 13, 2009

• CMS planning national QIS implementation

  Eleven states are currently at various points in the Quality Indicator Survey (QIS) implementation...

• Strike ends, trouble does not for unionized New Jersey nursing home workers

  For three days, roughly 300 nursing home employees in northeast New Jersey refused to work...

• Tip of the week: Create a QIS mock survey team

  Build your mock survey team and select a team coordinator to keep all participants focused and to...

• Quick poll: Have you started to prepare, or are you in the midst of training, for the QIS survey?

  To respond to this week's question, scroll to the bottom of the long-term care page on HCPro's Web...

Issue 30, August 6, 2009

• PACE project proposals accepted

  Recently released in the Federal Register Online, CMS announced the resolicitation of private...

• Apparent scabies outbreak closes nursing home

  A nursing home in Evansville, IN shut its doors to the public on August 4 as the result of an...

• Tip of the week: An overview of the QIS process

  The Quality Indicator Survey (QIS) is a systematic and structured two-staged process, utilizing...

Issue 29, July 30, 2009

• CMS updates UB-04 point of origin codes

  Beginning January 4, 2010, Medicare’s claims processing systems will accept two new point of...

• Our top 20 Twitter feed recommendations

  As social networking and micro-blogging Web sites become a popular resource for people looking for...

• Tip of the week: Managing with ethical principles in mind

  All administrators and healthcare professionals should have a solid understanding of the five...

• Quick poll: Does the increase in the federal minimum wage from $6.55/hour to $7.25/hour, which took effect on July 24, affect your facility's ability to hire or maintain enough staff?

  To respond to this week's question, scroll to the bottom of the long-term care page on HCPro's Web...

Issue 28, July 23, 2009

• CMS details infection control expectations with Transmittal R51SOMA

  Relocating F-tags 442, 443, 444, and 445 to F441, Transmittal R51SOMA provides a thorough...

• Research suggests doctors' attitudes may determine early Alzheimer's diagnosis

  Recently reported at the 2009 International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease in Vienna by...

• Tip of the week: Making the most of personality tests

  Administering personality tests as part of the employee selection process has its risks and its...

• Quick poll: Approximately what percentage of residents in your facility are short-stay?

  To respond to this week's question, scroll to the bottom of the long-term care page on HCPro's Web...

Issue 27, July 16, 2009

• House Democrats' health care reform bill proposes critical changes

  Introduced on Tuesday and cited as the work of three different House committees, America’s...

• Ratings are improvement, but consumers want more

  It’s been six months since CMS launched its five-star quality rating system on Nursing Home...

• Tip of the week: Develop a crisis management strategy

  No facility is completely safe from negative events, adverse outcomes, fires, elopements, or...

• Quick poll: Approximately what percentage of residents in your facility are short-stay?

  To respond to this week's question, scroll to the bottom of the long-term care page on HCPro's Web...

Issue 26, July 9, 2009

• National long-term care insurance premiums in flux under CLASS Act

  Proposed by Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy and endorsed by President Obama, the Community Living...

• Significant nursing home legislation on the floor at Capitol Hill

  The first new legislation involving nursing homes since 1987 is being considered by Congress as...

• Tip of the week: Provide exceptional customer service

  With the inclusion of interviews as part of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 and Quality Indicator...

Issue 25, July 2, 2009

• Long-term care insurance plan could partially offset the cost of healthcare reform

  A new insurance program for long-term care that Democrats included in the Affordable Health Choices...

• Pressure-relieving mattresses for all New Jersey nursing homes

  A new bill, signed by New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine in April, will require the state’s...

• Tip of the week: Encourage residents to be active and healthy

  You are responsible for helping the people you take care of be as active, independent, and healthy...

• Quick poll: Does your facility struggle with no-pay bills?

  To respond to this week's question, scroll to the bottom of the long-term care page on HCPro's Web...

Issue 24, June 25, 2009

• Pharma may benefit from deal to cut Medicare drug costs

  In a deal reached between the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers (PhRMA) of America and...

• Consumer and employee satisfaction improves in US nursing homes

  Despite the toll the recession has taken on many of our nation’s nursing homes, consumer and...

• Tip of the week: Special considerations for resident interviews

  The geriatric population requires a different approach when it comes to interviewing. There are...

• Quick poll: Is your facility concerned about the Quality of Life F-tags that went into effect on June 12?

  To respond to this week's question, scroll to the bottom of the long-term care page on HCPro's Web...

Issue 23, June 18, 2009

• CMS releases updates to quality of life F-tags

  The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released several revisions to its...

• MedPAC releases report to Congress

  The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) released its June 2009 Report to the Congress...

• Hypoglycemia and how to respond

  Hypoglycemia means that the level of sugar in the blood is too low (less than 70). Too much insulin...

Issue 22, June 11, 2009

• Senator Kennedy releases healthcare reform bill

  Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), chairman of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and...

• Attention DONs: Learn the skills to be a successful leader

  Does your facility invest a lot of time, money, and effort into orienting clinical staff? Does it...

• Tip of the week: Starting background checks in your facility

  Want some tips for beginning a program of background checks at your facility?

• Quick poll: Will your facility need a new software vendor once the MDS 3.0 is implemented?

  To respond to this week's question, scroll to the bottom of the long-term care page on HCPro's Web...

Issue 21, June 4, 2009

• CDC says elderly not hit as hard by swine flu

  A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed some elderly people...

• MDS 3.0 a focus of the Open Door Forum

  CMS officials reviewed the changes included in the latest MDS 3.0 Draft Item Set and addressed...

• Tip of the week: Interview residents without bias

  One of the major advances of the MDS 3.0 is the use of direct interview items to capture the...

Issue 20, May 28, 2009

• Updated Five-Star information

  CMS updated their Web site with new information about the Five-Star Quality Rating System for...

• Bill would expand MedPAC's power

  Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) recently introduced a bill that would expand the Medicare Payment...

Issue 19, May 21, 2009

• New Recovery Audit Contractor FAQs

  CMS updated the frequently asked questions (FAQ) about the Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) program...

• Treating chronic pain in the elderly

  New pain management guidelines issued by the American Geriatrics Society suggest that commonly used...

• Tip of the week: Using pain scales

  When assessing pain by using a pain scale, consider the resident’s hearing and vision.

• Quick poll: Now that CMS has released an updated MDS 3.0 Draft Item Set, how is your facility approaching MDS 3.0 training?

  To respond to this week's question, scroll to the bottom of the long-term care page on HCPro's Web...

Issue 18, May 7, 2009

• Proposed rule calls for PPS rate cuts and RUG-IV

  The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its proposed rule for FY 2010 payment...

• Report raises concerns about the future of Medicare

  The Medicare Board of Trustees released their 2009 Annual Report of the Federal Hospital Insurance...

• Keep an eye out for swine flu

  Although the swine flu, officially referred to as H1N1, is not as severe as originally anticipated...

• CMS releases new MDS 3.0 draft

  An updated version of the MDS 3.0 Draft Item Set appeared on CMS’ Web site Thursday, May 7.

• Minimize stress and help nurses think critically

  Use these tips to minimize stress for new graduate nurses and improve their ability to think...

• Quick poll: Is your facility concerned about the payment updates included in SNF PPS proposed rule for FY 2010?

  To respond to this week's question, scroll to the bottom of the long-term care page on HCPro's Web...

Issue 17, April 30, 2009

• LTC associations requested MDS 3.0 implementation delay

  In early January, several long-term care industry associations wrote a letter to President...

• Sebelius is new Secretary of HHS

  The Senate confirmed Kathleen Sebelius’ new position as the Secretary of the Department of...

• Tip of the week: Apply restorative nursing to all residents

  The principles of restorative nursing care, designed to assist residents to attain and maintain the...

Issue 16, April 23, 2009

• AHCA's LTC finance reform plan could save $35 billion, report estimates

  A plan to overhaul long-term care funding could reduce federal long-term care spending by $35...

• Health IT group plans to certify long-term care software by 2010

  The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT) announced last Thursday...

• Tip of the week: Heed the warning signs of resident falls

  Identifying the reason for unsafe behavior and falls, then implementing an individualized plan...

• Quick poll: Do you support a long-term care finance reform plan that increases the amount of private funding for long-term care services?

  Quick poll: Do you support a long-term care finance reform plan that increases the amount of...

Issue 15, April 16, 2009

• More breaking news and analysis for healthcare executives

  For the healthcare news busy executives need, visit the newly redesigned HealthLeaders Media Web...

• CMS releases pain management guidelines for nursing homes under F309

  Pain management is about to come under intense scrutiny with the release of new pain management...

Issue 14, April 9, 2009

• Nursing home value-based purchasing demonstration begins in July

  CMS plans to test whether financial incentives can encourage nursing facilities to make quality...

• Updated MDS 3.0 timeline appears briefly on CMS Web site

  CMS posted an updated MDS 3.0 timeline on its Web site Tuesday, but apparently removed the timeline...

• Prevent lawsuits with good customer service

  Being nice, empathetic, and responsive to everyone will go a long way toward preventing litigation.

• Tip of the week: Understand your role in the MDS process for better quality and reimbursement

  The administrator does not have to be as well schooled in the MDS process as his or her MDS...

• Quick poll: Since the MDS 3.0 has been delayed until 2010, has your nursing facility postponed preparations for the new assessment system?

  To respond to this week's question, scroll to the bottom of the long-term care page at HCPro.com.

Issue 13, April 2, 2009

• CMS issues new guidance for Medicare Advantage and Part D plans

  CMS will require Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug plan organizations to...

• Physician says nursing home specialists could improve quality of care

  Physician nursing home specialists may improve the quality of care in nursing homes, says Paul R...

• Tip of the week: Know when to notify physicians about abnormal labs

  In some situations, the facility continues to have the responsibility for identifying potential...

Issue 12, March 26, 2009

• Mentally ill residents in nursing homes come under scrutiny

  The way nursing homes handle young, mentally ill residents living among frail, elderly residents...

• CMS may adjust SNF payments with STRIVE study data

  Members of the Staff Time and Resource Intensity Verification (STRIVE) project Technical Expert...

• Tip of the week: Develop an administrator's checklist for facility rounds

  One major mistake that many administrators commit is relying entirely on other staff members to...

• Quick poll: Due to the economic downturn, has your facility experienced difficulty collecting out-of-pocket payments from residents?

  To respond to this week's question, scroll to the bottom of the long-term care page on HCPro's...

Issue 11, March 19, 2009

• A note to CLTC Weekly readers

  If you’ve ever wondered what the “C” in CLTC Weekly stands for, we’re...

• MedPAC recommends zero update for SNF payments in 2010

  A commission that advises Congress on Medicare issues says SNFs should not receive an increase in...

• Tip of the week: Prevent lawsuits with thorough employee screening

  Your facility can be sued for negligence if you fail to implement preemployment screening and...

Issue 10, March 12, 2009

• Quick poll: Has your facility been targeted for a medical review in the last 12 months?

  To respond to this week's question, scroll to the bottom of the long-term care page on HCPro's...

Issue 9, March 5, 2009

• Revised ABN for Part B services

  SNFs must use the revised advanced beneficiary notice (ABN) form for items or services expected to...

• Revised guidance for F309

  On January 23, CMS provided long-term care surveyors with revised guidance on F309, quality of care.

• Monitor at-risk residents to prevent permanent kidney damage

  Being aware of the resident’s risk factors, prevention of dehydration, and close monitoring...

• Quick poll: Is your facility concerned about the heightened enforcement of HIPAA?

  To respond to this week's question, scroll to the bottom of the long-term care page on HCPro's...

Issue 8, February 26, 2009

• Understanding the economic stimulus package's effect on HIPAA

  Last week, U.S. President Barack Obama signed into law a $787 billion economic American Recovery...

• Preliminary 2010 Medicare Advantage reimbursement rates lower than expected

  On February 20, CMS released the Advance Notice of policy and technical changes to be made to the...

Issue 7, February 19, 2009

• Economic stimulus package: What's in it for SNFs

  President Barack Obama signed a $787 billion economic stimulus package into law Tuesday, which...

• Florida physicians charged with Medicare fraud

  Three South Florida doctors are accused of defrauding Medicare for approximately $10 million via an...

• Quality assurance

  Quality assurance (QA) is linked to quality improvement (QI), and in long-term care, it’s...

• Do V-codes cause confusion at your facility?

  To respond to this week’s question, scroll to the bottom of the long-term care page on...

Issue 6, February 12, 2009

• RAC protests withdrawn and expansion schedule updated

  Unsuccessful bidders withdrew their protests to the recovery audit contractor (RAC) program on...

• CMS seeks comments on competitive bidding delay

  CMS seeks comments on a proposed 60-day delay in the effective date of the Interim Final Rule for...

• Invest in people by making changes to your leadership

  Savvy nursing home administrators know that staff retention costs facilities a lot less than staff...

Issue 5, February 5, 2009

• Associations discuss the five-star program with CMS

  Representatives from AHCA, AAHSA, and AQNHC met with CMS to discuss the Five Star Rating Program.

• CMS takes action with DEMPOS competitive bidding

  CMS issued an interim final regulation on January 15 that details changes to the competitive...

• Improve staff retention with the right culture change

  High staff turnover rate? Money may not be the reason.

• Are you confused about ABNs?

  To respond to this week’s question, scroll to the bottom of the long-term care page on...

Issue 4, January 29, 2009

• California nursing homes may be required to display star ratings

  Los Angeles County supervisors have proposed all California nursing homes display their star rating...

• We want to hear your thoughts on CNA training

  We are working to improve the CNA training services we offer but, to do so, we need your help.

• Preparing for baby boomers

  Take a look at today’s nursing home and think about how you’d want it to look if you...

Issue 3, January 22, 2009

• Medicare launches PHR Choice pilot

  CMS announced the launch of the Medicare PHR [personal health record] Choice pilot program in...

• Massachusetts seniors struggle against rising drug costs

  The Massachusetts Prescription Assistance program experienced an $11 million funding cut on January...

• Improve retention rates by spending smarter

  Staffing issues are an ongoing problem in many nursing homes. However, some homes are discovering...

• Question of the week: Does your facility have a professional coder on staff?

  Go to http://hcpro.com/long-term-care/  and scroll down to the bottom right corner of the page...

Issue 2, January 15, 2009

• CMS announces final five MACs

  CMS announced the final five Medicare administrative contractors (MAC) on January 7, according to a...

• Obama calls for change to digital health records

  President-elect Barack Obama recently proposed a shift to standardized digital health records...

• Tip of the week: Build a strong board of directors for your facility

  Find the right skill set to execute the best strategy for the financial health of your skilled...

Issue 1, January 8, 2009

• LTC and the economic downturn: The good, the bad, and the surprising

  Long-term care providers are certainly feeling the negative effects of the economic recession but...

• Alzheimer's genes identified

  On January 5, researchers at the University of Miami announced they have identified nine genes that...

• Tip of the week: Top 10 ways to make your facility a homier dwelling

  Buy versus build: Those aren't your only options to bring your skilled nursing facility (SNF) into...

• Question of the week: Are you satisfied with your facility’s MSP identification process?

  Go to http://hcpro.com/long-term-care/  and scroll down to the bottom right corner of the page...