Healthcare, Senior Living, Economics
Having jumped around just a bit in the last few weeks “topically”, this post may seem a bit disjointed. It is meant as a continuation of a series I’ve compiled on the various implications providers, consumers, etc. can/will experience under the Affordable Care Act (a/k/a Obamacare). Given the news cycle of late and the recent roll-out of … Read more
Most of my readers know by now that I am an economist by training and formal education. My clients know this as well. The net result is that I’ve been queried, almost to death as of late, as to what this current round of Washington folly is really all about. Is it about the ACA? … Read more
For readers approximating my age, a commercial slogan ties to the title of this post: “Is it real or is it Memorex”. In this current round of Washington political maneuvering and on display dysfunction lies the question; is the ACA issue real or is it a tool for political posturing? Is this a real “red … Read more
An issue that continues to confound the hospital and SNF industry is the growing use and thus, referral and coverage (Medicare) ramifications of observation stays. Fundamentally, and observation stay by current definition is a non-inpatient stay – an extended residence in an outpatient status. Truly, this a bifurcated problem or issue; hospitals wishing to avoid … Read more
Last week I spoke at two joint provider-surveyor training conferences regarding QAPI or more specifically, how it really works and what it looks like in “real-time”. QAPI is a new survey requirement for SNFs; fully expanded to Quality Assurance, Performance Improvement. Up until recently, SNFs were required by federal conditions of participation to have a Quality Assurance function, … Read more
This is the second post of a four-part series on the status and implications of the continuing roll-forward/roll-out of the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare). In this post, the context is the implications for providers, given the evolving state of the ACA and some of the current uncertainty of its future. Important to note: Affirmatively, the … Read more
A number of my regular readers and clients routinely ask for my thoughts/analysis on where the Reform Act/Affordable Care Act/Obamacare is at, particularly in-light of the recent one-year delay in the employer mandate. Given the complexity of this subject and the scope of the overall law, a single post won’t cover the subject adequately. In compiling … Read more
Since last week, I’ve fielded a number of questions/inquiries stemming from the PBS segment on Assisted Living. Interesting, a number of the queries have come from sources tangential to the industry (policy folks, trade associations, advocacy groups, etc.). Thematically, these sources are looking for answers as to “why” and “what can be done”. Aside from … Read more
PBS is planning on airing a segment tomorrow (Tuesday, July 30) on its program Frontline, highlighting Assisted Living care in the United States (titled “Life and Death in Assisted Living”). Much of the content focuses on Emeritus and other large, for-profit operators. A link to the PBS website follows as summary to the broadcast. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/pressroom/frontline-propublica-investigate-assisted-living-in-america/ … Read more
Among the improvement laggards in the current slow economic recovery was the real estate sector of the economy. Despite record low borrowing rates, home sales seemed stuck in neutral even as positive GDP growth resumed, modest gains in employment occurred, and consumer confidence improved. Starting late summer 2012 and accelerating in to 2013, the real … Read more