Survey: Pharmaceutical Companies Should Help Educate on Medicare Part D
July 12, 2006 by Jerri Lynn Ward, J.D.
Filed under Medicare, Medicare Part D
Verispan, a health care research company, has issued the results of a spring 2006 survey of long term care providers. According to the survey, 94 percent of long term care providers expect pharmaceutical companies to help educate prescribers about Medicare’s new prescription drug plan, and 54 percent said they expect companies to help educate patients. [...]
Provider Letter: Remittance and Status Reports
July 11, 2006 by Jerri Lynn Ward, J.D.
Filed under Operational Issues
In a provider letter dated June 30, 2006, the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services reminded community service providers, ICF-MR provider agencies, nursing facilities, and therapy providers of the “importance and usefulness” of Remittance and Status reports (R&S). Providers should review the reports to make sure billing is correct and recoupments are valid. Providers [...]
HIPAA and Emergency Preparedness
July 7, 2006 by Jerri Lynn Ward, J.D.
Filed under HIPAA
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) protects individuals’ Private Health Information (PHI) held by “covered entities,” like health plans, health care providers, and health care clearinghouses, and regulates the use and disclosure of PHI. In order to help emergency preparedness and recovery planners stay in compliance with HIPPA while accessing and [...]
Medicaid Proof of Citizenship in Effect
July 5, 2006 by Jerri Lynn Ward, J.D.
Filed under Medicaid
On July 1, a new rule went into effect that requires new Medicaid applicants and current beneficiaries re-enrolling in Medicaid to show proof of U.S. citizenship in order to collect benefits. Last month I wrote about the new law and followed up with a post about the Texas Health and Human Services Commission’s intention to [...]
High Employee Turnover Rates Affect LTC
July 4, 2006 by Jerri Lynn Ward, J.D.
Filed under Nurses, Nursing Homes
According to an article in The Enid News and Eagle, the national turnover rate for elderly health care jobs is as high as 150 percent. There are several reasons for the country’s shortage of elderly health care workers – especially nurses – and aging is high on the list. With an aging baby boom generation [...]
The End of Medicine : How Silicon Valley (and Naked Mice) Will Reboot Your Doctor
July 3, 2006 by Jerri Lynn Ward, J.D.
Filed under Medical Breakthroughs, Other Posts
That’s the name of a new book by Andy Kessler. I haven’t read the book yet, but it is about amazing new breakthroughs (via Silicon Valley) in diagnostic tools that will be able to detect potential problems long before they become a problem. The book description at Amazon.com says the following about the book: Your [...]
Long Term Care Providers Prepare for Disasters
July 3, 2006 by Jerri Lynn Ward, J.D.
Filed under Investigating Incidents, Nursing Homes
Because of nightmarish stories like this one, long term care providers are doing more to prepare for disasters, natural and man-made. An organization called Mather LifeWays Institute created a program called PREPARE to train long term care providers in preparing for disasters and public health emergencies. (Senior Journal) To learn more about PREPARE, see the [...]
Provider Letter: LTC Online Portal Transition
July 3, 2006 by Jerri Lynn Ward, J.D.
Filed under Operational Issues
On June 2, the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services issued a letter to various providers to inform them about upgrades to the LTC Online Portal system. (Letter No. 06-37). In a letter dated June 27, DADS provides additional information about the LTC Online Portal. Download the letter for information on viewing forms, portal [...]
Long Term Care Providers Insurance and Funding News
July 3, 2006 by Jerri Lynn Ward, J.D.
Filed under Funding Issues
Long term care providers in Texas will have another insurance option. Continuing Care Risk Retention Group, Inc. (CCRRG), will underwrite polices for providers in Texas, according to the San Antonio Business Journal. Bob Bates, president of Magnolia LTC, the company that administers CCRRG, said that health care industry tort reform in Texas is the reason. [...]
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