Providers should not necessarily fear regulators’ ramped up scrutiny efforts on nursing home operators and private-equity investors in the long-term care space. The temperature in these pursuits is only going to continue to rise anyway. These are just a few of the key observations from someone who knows all sides of the federal legal landscape well, Jolie Apicella, a partner with Wiggin and Dana LLP, and a former assistant US States Attorney. Even though a proposed new nursing home ownership disclosure rule could lead to more whistleblower lawsuits, Apicella says  “shedding light will be ..read more

Managing a chronic condition in an older adult becomes significantly harder if that senior also suffers a behavioral health issue, according to Christine Vanlandingham, CEO of Michigan Region IV Agency on Aging. That’s why the agency’s new Integrated Care at Home program deploys behavioral health specialists into the homes of seniors, along with primary care providers and nutritionists. Vanlandingham spoke recently to McKnight's Home Care in a podcast about the subject. www.mcknightshomecare.com Follow us on social media: Twitter: @McKHomeCare Facebook: McKnight's Home Care LinkedIn: McK ..read more

Times are tight in long-term care, and every penny counts. That’s why the Diakanos Group’s Todd Beesley went the distance last week. He recorded 62 miles in 48 hours to raise money for employees in the organization’s 15 skilled nursing, assisted living and group home facilities. That’s a little longer than a 100K, a popular distance among ultrarunners who push themselves through all kinds of weather and terrain to make the finish line. Beesley, a seasoned distance runner, repeated a feat he accomplished in 2021, hoping to double the fundraising effort that accompanied his run. All the money ra ..read more

Lynne Katzmann, founder and CEO of Juniper Communities, shares how Juniper shifted its corporate mindset to a wellness focus and the returns on investment it has seen by doing so. She also suggests areas that senior living operators can focus on when making such a shift, including where to start ..read more

Nursing homes and the skilled nursing arena could be in for choppy waters as far as investors are concerned. Yet there are markers that give the sector reason for optimism, especially for stakeholders who play their cards right, says NIC investment expert Bill Kauffman in this podcast moderated by McKnight’s Executive Editor James M. Berklan.   Follow us on twitter:  @mcknightsltcn www.mcknights.com ..read more

Home health and hospice ranked in the top 15 healthcare subsectors for private equity investment in 2022, according to the Private Equity Stakeholder Project. In this McKnight’s Home Care Newsmaker podcast, Mary Bugbee and Eileen O’Grady from the nonprofit watchdog group explain why labor issues and patient safety call for more government oversight of private equity investment in the sector.   www.mcknightshomecare.com Follow us on social media: Twitter: @McKHomeCare Facebook: McKnight's Home Care LinkedIn: McKnight's Home Care Instagram: mcknights_homecare ..read more

Denial data has a story to tell, a story that can help revenue cycle leaders improve financial processes and facility cashflow. The key is unlocking it and entrepreneur Lori Zindl did. In this podcast, we explore how she built a tool to see her end-to-end revenue cycle in real-time, which improved overall operations, payer relationships and profit margins for her customers ..read more

CMS plans to increase psychotropic drugs oversight – to include targeted audits. These stepped up efforts follow the latest updates to the State Operations Manual surveyors started using October 24, which include unnecessary psychotropic use, misdiagnosis related to antipsychotics, and gradual dose reductions of these medications. Nursing facilities are not yet required to have a psychotropic stewardship program. But adopting one can preempt regulatory action while promoting the appropriate use of these medications to improve outcomes, reduce adverse events, and drive a higher Five-Star rating ..read more

In healthcare, there can be a disconnect between patients, payers and providers in determining what amount of care is appropriate. The gap could widen under value-based care. In this McKnight's Home Care Newsmakers podcast, Elara Caring's Chief Medical Officer Kevin Henning, MD, explains how home health providers can better align those interests.\   www.mcknightshomecare.com Follow us on social media: Twitter: @McKHomeCare Facebook: McKnight's Home Care LinkedIn: McKnight's Home Care Instagram: mcknights_homecare ..read more

On the heels of the release of the association's strategic plan and as its annual Public Policy Institute approaches, Argentum President and CEO James Balda discusses pressing issues facing senior living providers as well as possible solutions ..read more