Medicare spending spikes for dementia diagnoses in seniors
Jun 13, 2022
Medicare spending was higher for adults with a formal clinical diagnosis of dementia versus a positive screening for cognitive impairment.
Action needed for long-term sustainability of Medicare, Social Security, Yellen says
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
Jun 06, 2022
Medicare and Social Security trustees reports released last week showed “strong economic recovery and growth in the past year,” Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen said. In the long term, however, both...
Medicare spending on SNFs up more than 4 percent, but use declines
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
Jun 03, 2022
Total Medicare spending for skilled nursing facilities increased $1.1 billion (4.4%) between 2019 and 2020, although 200,000 fewer traditional Medicare beneficiaries were using SNF services after the pandemic...
Greater nurse staffing tied to better sepsis outcomes
Jun 01, 2022
An increase in registered nurse hours per patient day was associated with a 3% decrease in 60-day mortality.
Care coordination, policy changes can improve mental health services for older adults
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
May 20, 2022
Integrating aging services, mental health and physical health is key to improving quality of life outcomes for older adults, according to a mental health expert.
Staff COVID-19 vaccinations have risen 25 percentage points under CMS mandate
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
May 18, 2022
COVID-19 vaccination rates among nursing home staff jumped 25 percentage points nationally thanks in no small part to a CMS mandate imposed earlier this year.
States renew request for U.S. Supreme Court to block healthcare worker vaccine mandate
By
Kathleen Steele Gaivin
May 17, 2022
Attorneys general from nine states on Thursday renewed their request for the U.S. Supreme Court to review the legality of the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for healthcare workers, which they...
Medicare policy changes tied to drop in hospice use for dementia
May 09, 2022
Immediate and lasting reductions were seen in the share of patients receiving hospice care with the Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia code.
Dual enrollment status, state regulations affect end-of-life care in assisted living: study
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
May 03, 2022
Dual Medicare / Medicaid enrollment, state regulations, and race and ethnicity affect access to end-of-life care in assisted living communities and where residents die, according to a new study published...
Some Medicare Advantage organizations are denying or delaying services to beneficiaries covered under Medicare rules, according to a report issued Thursday by the Department of Health and Human Services...