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 beginning to retire, including nurses in the cohort, shortages will likely become more pronounced. According to the National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses, the average age of the … [Read more...] about High Employee Turnover Rates Affect LTC
The End of Medicine : How Silicon Valley (and Naked Mice) Will Reboot Your Doctor
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 doctor can't be certain what's going on inside your body, but technology will. Embedding the knowledge of doctors in silicon will bring a breakout technology to health care, and … [Read more...] about The End of Medicine : How Silicon Valley (and Naked Mice) Will Reboot Your Doctor
Long Term Care Providers Prepare for Disasters
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 press release. More than 60 percent of Hurricane Katrina victims were elderly, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. A … [Read more...] about Long Term Care Providers Prepare for Disasters
Provider Letter: LTC Online Portal Transition
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 registration, transitioning from old to new forms, etc., on the new web-based online system. … [Read more...] about Provider Letter: LTC Online Portal Transition
Long Term Care Providers Insurance and Funding News
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. High insurance rates have driven up health care costs, but the Texas legislature recently reformed the state's tort system. As a result, … [Read more...] about Long Term Care Providers Insurance and Funding News
Provider Letter: Special Enrollment; New Dual Eligibles
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is extending the Medicare Part D prescription drug program enrollment period for Hurricane Katrina victims, according to a June 20 DADS provider letter to community services providers. Beneficiaries who lived in "designated parishes and counties" when the hurricane hit will have until December 31, 2006, to enroll. CMS also released information for new dual eligible beneficiaries. You may download PDF copies all related letters and documents … [Read more...] about Provider Letter: Special Enrollment; New Dual Eligibles
Louisiana Seeks to Overhaul Medicaid System
Louisiana is one of a growing number of states seeking to overhaul its Medicaid system. I wrote about the subject a few days ago. (See States Take On Medicaid Reform) Louisiana plans to propose changes designed to provide flexibility in its Medicaid program in order to treat more uninsured patients. The changes would likely increase out-of-pocket expenses for these patients. Louisiana has a charity hospital system that treats uninsured patients, but some believe the system should be shut … [Read more...] about Louisiana Seeks to Overhaul Medicaid System
Congress and Medicare
Congress probably won't act on Medicare legislation until after the August recess and may end up waiting until after the elections, according to The Hill. One of the pending Medicare bills is a proposal to eliminate late fees for beneficiaries who didn't sign up for the Medicare prescription drug plan before the May 15 deadline, which I blogged about here. Medical News Today has a round up of news links. In other Medicare news, an "independent expert panel" concluded that enrollment of … [Read more...] about Congress and Medicare
Provider Tax Proposal in New Jersey
In order to raise $430 million, the governor of New Jersey has proposed to tax hospitals about $1,400 a bed. Half the funds would be used to increase matching funds from the federal government under Medicaid. (Source) Many states require providers, including nursing homes, to pay a tax or "quality assessment fee." States use this money to obtain matching funds from the federal government under the 50/50 Medicaid match system. There is currently no provider tax assessed against nursing homes … [Read more...] about Provider Tax Proposal in New Jersey
States Take on Medicaid Reform
Last month I blogged about West Virginia's proposal to implement "personal responsibility contracts" for Medicaid recipients. In essence, beneficiaries will be required to take some responsibility for their health, and those who don't will be penalized with reduced benefits and coverage. As controversial as they may sound, the federal government approved the state's plan. Medicaid serves about 55 million people, and states should do all they can to prevent fraud and waste and help the most … [Read more...] about States Take on Medicaid Reform