Reports that 20% or more of unplanned hospital readmissions are avoidable has led to considerable interest in policymakers in reducing readmissions.[1] Actively reducing hospital readmissions is seen as a route to lower Medicare spending and … [Read more...] about Reducing Hospital Readmissions by Addressing the Causes
Quality of Care
International Study: Privatization of Long-Term Care Facilities Does Not Lead to Greater Transparency or More Care
A comparison of the long-term care industry in California, Ontario (Canada), England, and Norway evaluates the extent to which ownership of nursing facilities has shifted from the public sector to private for-profit and not-for-profit companies, and … [Read more...] about International Study: Privatization of Long-Term Care Facilities Does Not Lead to Greater Transparency or More Care
RNs and CNAs Work Fewer Hours in Nursing Facilities that Serve Predominately Ethnic and Racial Minority Residents
A December 2015 Health Affairs study of freestanding Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) from 2001 thru 2011 found that registered nurses (RNs) were less likely to work at nursing homes with high concentrations of racial and ethnic minorities.[1] This … [Read more...] about RNs and CNAs Work Fewer Hours in Nursing Facilities that Serve Predominately Ethnic and Racial Minority Residents
Yet Again, Value-Based Purchasing Did Not Improve Quality
The federal government’s funding of a value-based purchasing (VBP) demonstration project in the Medicare Advantage (MA) program did not improve quality of care, as measured by the plans’ five-star quality ratings. The findings from this demonstration … [Read more...] about Yet Again, Value-Based Purchasing Did Not Improve Quality
Discharge Planning: Tips for Evaluating a Hospital’s Skilled Nursing Facility Placement Choices
Medicare beneficiaries often need care in a Medicare- participating skilled nursing facility (SNF) after an inpatient hospitalization. For these patients, hospitals are responsible for identifying skilled nursing facilities within the … [Read more...] about Discharge Planning: Tips for Evaluating a Hospital’s Skilled Nursing Facility Placement Choices
Advancing Excellence: Very Few Nursing Homes are “Full Active Participants” and Nearly Half of Them Provide Poor Care
In September 2006, the nursing home industry announced a voluntary quality improvement campaign – Advancing Excellence in America’s Nursing Homes.[1] The campaign, now in its ninth year and third phase, describes its mission: “to make nursing homes … [Read more...] about Advancing Excellence: Very Few Nursing Homes are “Full Active Participants” and Nearly Half of Them Provide Poor Care
Center for Medicare Advocacy Co-Authors Report Published by the Kaiser Family Foundation Comparing Consumer Protections in Major Health Plans
The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) has published a report entitled “Comparison of Consumer Protections in Three Health Insurance Markets: Medicare Advantage, Qualified Health Plans and Medicaid Managed Care Organizations.” The report is … [Read more...] about Center for Medicare Advocacy Co-Authors Report Published by the Kaiser Family Foundation Comparing Consumer Protections in Major Health Plans
Changes to Nursing Home Compare and the Five Star Quality Rating System
Two-Thirds of Nursing Facilities Nationwide Will See Decline In their Quality Measures; One-Third of Facilities Will See Decline in Their Overall ScoreAs promised in October 2014,[1] the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has … [Read more...] about Changes to Nursing Home Compare and the Five Star Quality Rating System
Changes to Nursing Home Compare: Some Good, Some Bad
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced plans to expand its focused surveys on resident assessments and nurse staffing for nursing facilities nationwide (but not in all facilities), beginning in early fiscal year 2015. … [Read more...] about Changes to Nursing Home Compare: Some Good, Some Bad
CMS Restructures Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) Program
Separating Beneficiary Complaint Review Functions from Quality Improvement FunctionsOn May 9, 2014, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the first phase of its restructuring of the QIO functions. In the first … [Read more...] about CMS Restructures Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) Program