Healthcare, Senior Living, Economics
Opening celebration at the Olympics is catching most of the buzz today and the Dog Days of Summer are definitely full-on. Still too much heat and not enough rain for my pleasure but August is around the corner and hopefully, some cooler weather. If nothing else, I can rely on the Olympics to alter my … Read more
Seems every day this month has been hot and dry – could use a break from the heat and definitely, some prolonged rain. Within the past couple of weeks, I’ve traveled “rural” a bit and as a result, I have a different perspective on what farmers and ranchers in the middle-section of the country are struggling … Read more
Back after a week of vacation (sort of) and then a week of scramble to catch up, here’s the latest that I am watching and that I find trending from readers and clients. Medicaid and Health Care Reform: Oddly, this has been a Medicaid week for me on a number of fronts. The Supreme Court decision … Read more
By popular request, I’ve created a new feature to this site to cover issues and topics “in brief” that I am watching or in some cases, directly tangential to by engagement. Weekly, my inbox is awash in “what have you heard?”, “are you seeing this?”, “what’s going on with?”, etc., type questions. I do try to answer them … Read more
Last week, Senators Kohl, Grassley and Blumenthal introduced an amendment to an existing FDA bill that would require the informed consent of nursing home patients or their legal surrogates before certain anti-psychotic/psychoactive medications were given. The target of this legislative initiative is to reduce the use of certain types of drugs commonly used to treat serious, chronic … Read more
Across a recent engagement that spanned a large system, wide geography and about a year’s worth of work, I had the chance to reflect numerous times on “what” has changed in the post-acute arena, particularly applicable to SNFs, over my 30 years. Below I’ve organized my thoughts in “eras” or periods of time. Cost Based/The … Read more
In a move that most industry watchers including myself believed was unlikely to occur, CMS decided to reverse course on a proposal to require SNFs to have separate relationships for dispensing and consulting pharmacies/pharmacists. CMS publicized its decision yesterday. About a month ago in a post I wrote regarding post-acute trends (http://wp.me/ptUlY-aO ), I indicated that … Read more
In my recent work and across recent discussions, phone conferences, etc., I’ve encountered a thematic trend; a circle of issues or as in reference to geese, perhaps a gaggle. Doing a bit of research and sifting through notes written over the past few weeks, here is what is trending. Pharmacy: In October of last year, … Read more
Literally fresh off of a significant rate adjustment/reduction in October (2011), Medpac (the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission) releases a recommendation for complete SNF payment overhaul. In their assessment of the SNF payment system under Medicare, Medpac concludes the following; Medicare payments to SNFs represent 23% of all revenues. Medicare (payer) as a share of SNF patient … Read more
What never ceases to amaze me is the amount of post-news discussion that occurs when certain issues rise to the front-page (or near the front page). Seemingly, industry side-liners awaken and look in disbelief that one major provider organization or another is again, embroiled in some OIG investigation, lawsuit or official inquiry concerning their Medicare … Read more