When research conducted a decade ago documented that mortality rates actually increased when employment rates increased, health economists sought to identify the cause. Focusing on employed workers did not explain the increased mortality … [Read more...] about Low Staffing in Nursing Homes Leads to More Deaths
Quality of Care
Medicare Hospital Readmissions
Reducing hospital readmissions is generating lots of confusion. The rules are complicated. In addition, some hospitals, facilities, and health care networks have adopted protocols, and have in place some level of procedures … [Read more...] about Medicare Hospital Readmissions
Voluntary Nursing Home Improvement Campaign Does Not Work
Nursing Facilities Participating in Advancing Excellence Still Among Worst Performers Many nursing facilities that are identified by the federal government as among the facilities providing the poorest quality of care to residents in the country … [Read more...] about Voluntary Nursing Home Improvement Campaign Does Not Work
Special Focus Facility Study: Nursing Facilities’ Self-Regulation Cannot Replace Independent Surveys
Each month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) identifies nursing facilities that are among the facilities providing the poorest care to their residents, as determined by federal deficiencies cited in the prior three … [Read more...] about Special Focus Facility Study: Nursing Facilities’ Self-Regulation Cannot Replace Independent Surveys
Toby Edelman Testifies Before Senate Special Committee Regarding Antipsychotics In Nursing Homes
UNITED STATES SENATE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON AGING OVERPRESCRIBED: THE HUMAN AND TAXPAYERS' COSTS OF ANTIPSYCHOTICS IN NURSING HOMES November 30, 2011 Testimony of Toby S. Edelman Senior Policy Attorney Center for Medicare Advocacy The … [Read more...] about Toby Edelman Testifies Before Senate Special Committee Regarding Antipsychotics In Nursing Homes
Study Finds that Use of Hospitalists Shifts Costs from Inpatient Care to Post-Discharge Setting
Hospitalists are defined as physicians who are based full-time in acute care hospitals and who provide care to hospitalized patients. The past decade has witnessed a rapid growth in hospitals' use of hospitalists, who have been shown to … [Read more...] about Study Finds that Use of Hospitalists Shifts Costs from Inpatient Care to Post-Discharge Setting
Proposed Notice Requirements About Quality of Care: Endorsement, with Concerns
On April 4, 2011, the Center for Medicare Advocacy (the Center) filed comments on a proposal by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish a new condition of Medicare participation (CoP) for certain Medicare service … [Read more...] about Proposed Notice Requirements About Quality of Care: Endorsement, with Concerns
Private Medicare Plans Do Not Offer Better Health Outcomes
For more than a year, the Center for Medicare Advocacy has been outspoken about the overpayments made to the private insurance plans in the subsection of the Medicare program called "Medicare Advantage." [1]During this same time period, the … [Read more...] about Private Medicare Plans Do Not Offer Better Health Outcomes
Accountable Care Organizations Should Increase Care Coordination in Traditional Medicare
By January 1, 2012, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) must establish a Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) that promotes accountability for a defined patient population, coordinates items and services under traditional … [Read more...] about Accountable Care Organizations Should Increase Care Coordination in Traditional Medicare
Health Reform: Linking Medicare Payment to Quality Outcome
This is the seventh in a series of Alerts by Center for Medicare Advocacy regarding the Patient Protection and Affordability Care Act of 2010 (PPACA) and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (HCERA). This Alert focuses on changes … [Read more...] about Health Reform: Linking Medicare Payment to Quality Outcome