How to Save Medicare? Die Sooner?!

A story in the New York Times proposes that the government consider saving Medicare money by having people die sooner(free subscription required to view): ALTHOUGH Social Security’s fiscal direction has taken center stage in Washington of late, Medicare’s future financing problems are likely to be much worse. President Bush has asserted that the Medicare Modernization [...]

You’d Think They’d Have Better Things to Do: The FBI and HIPAA

Brett Mendel, Senior Analyst at Byte and Switch Insider is reporting that the FBI is apparently investigating security breaches regarding data security and HIPAA: “It is happening with HIPAA,” says Mark Diamond, president and CEO of data storage consulting firm Contoural Inc. “If you do not maintain security of data, you will be investigated by [...]

A Little CMS Bird Chirps In My Ear About Inservices

I have received some insights from a source from CMS in Dallas about how your inservices could be improved that may help you when you are dealing with survey issues. The holding of an inservice in and of itself is not compelling evidence that you are fixing problems before (as part of Quality Assurance) or [...]

Residents get more money and facilities get more forms

Currently working their way through the Texas legislature are two bills, House Bill 212 by Guillen and Senate Bill 199 by Gallegos. Senate Bill 199, if passed, would increase the personal needs allowance from $45 to $75 a month for residents in nursing homes, assisted living and ICF-MR facilities. House Bill 212 would require that [...]