Healthcare, Senior Living, Economics
Yesterday, I wrote a post regarding health systems and providers looking at finding efficiencies and, in some cases, cutting staff – particularly at the administrative and executive levels. Providers are being tasked with making do with less as the economic headwinds remain stiff, even gale force in some cases. Part of the challenge for providers … Read more
In a series of news stories starting with a piece in the New Yorker published last November, hospices, particularly for-profit hospices in certain states, are being called-out for fraudulent activity. The New Yorker article headline begins, “It began as a visionary notion—that patients could die with dignity at home. Now it’s a twenty-two-billion-dollar industry plagued … Read more
There are nearly 300 articles/posts on this site and from time to time, I’m going to repost an “oldie but a goodie” that is as applicable now as it was when I originally wrote it. This is from July of 2009. This follows well with Tuesday’s piece on OIG initiatives and SNFs…https://wp.me/ptUlY-BJ This seemed to … Read more
In 2001, the Association for Professional Chaplains honored me with their Distinguished Service Award for my work in expanding the impact of professional chaplaincy and programs of pastoral care/ ministry in specialized healthcare settings. This was (and remains for me) a huge honor. Yet, since that time, a little over twenty years ago, programs of … Read more
I’ve been in and around healthcare for three plus decades and a concept that has always been front of mind for me is care coordination. This is something that is so important for a patient’s well-being in terms of improved outcomes and satisfaction. It is also a real opportunity for cost improvement. Unfortunately, I’ve seen … Read more
The beautiful, fascinating thing about health policy in the U.S. is its cycle of evolution. It evolves, sometimes slowly and other times quickly but always, in a progressive (not in the political sense) direction. Providers today can be lulled to sleep (quickly) by the vacuum drone of big policy lectures, webinars, etc., easily thinking for … Read more
In nearly all provider segments of health care, revenue maximization and integrity are directly tied to compliance and quality ratings. In home health, submission of quality data via the OASIS (known as HH CAHPS) is required. Agencies that fail to submit the required data experience reimbursement reductions of 2%. For SNFs, reporting of QRP data … Read more
About ten days ago, I wrote a piece regarding the negative impacts providers can expect (and receive) when quality of care and service combined with vigilance on compliance are not primary in and across their organizations. All too often, I hear companies and organizations that I work with, say they are committed to quality but by deeds, the evidence is … Read more
A number of interesting information drops occurred this past week or so reminding me that from time to time, the obvious isn’t always so obvious. The seniors housing and skilled care industry today is going through a rocky patch. A solid half of the SNF industry is severely hurting or struggling mightily due to Med … Read more
Yesterday, CMS began posting the first elements from the Quality Reporting Program. There are five elements that contain data, compared to the national average. Percent of residents developing new or worsening pressure injuries Percent of residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury Percent of residents who had a functional assessment on admission and the … Read more