National News

SNF Operators Bash Health Care’s Shift into the Home

The most recent rejection of the U.S. health care systemʼs shift into the home came last week during a panel discussion at the Skilled Nursing News Summit in Chicago, an event attended by nearly 300 skilled nursing facility owners, operators and stakeholders. Panelists included Transitional Care Management CEO Brian Cloch, Aegis Therapies CEO Martha Schram and George Hager, CEO of Genesis HealthCare. … “Going into a SNF is going to be a far better deal,” Cloch—whose Illinois-based company develops, owns and operates transitional care facilities—said during the event. “I think we as an industry need to continue to fight for that.” 

Get rid of market barriers to appropriate pain management

Ending the nationʼs opioid epidemic requires eliminating obstacles to treatment and appropriate analgesic prescribing and pain management. New policies adopted at the 2019 AMA Annual Meeting took aim at barriers established by health plans and other players in the medical system. “Physicians have a responsibility to help end the opioid epidemic, and they are taking steps: more judicious prescribing that has resulted in a dramatic decline in opioid prescriptions, enhanced education, and lobbying for policies based on clinical evidence,” said AMA President Patrice A. Harris, MD, MA, chair of the AMA Opioid Task Force.

National Strategy for Palliative Care

The federal government should work with stakeholders to develop a national strategy for palliative care, similar to those developed to combat smoking, H.I.V., the opioid epidemic and pandemic influenza, according to Diane Meier, M.D., director of the Center to Advance Palliative Care. A national strategy would bring together government agencies, health care organizations, the private sector and other stakeholders to develop a multifaceted plan to improve the state of palliative care in the United States, addressing issues such as public awareness of and access to palliative care, addressing staff shortages, establishing payment models, and expanding utilization.

Hospices Leverage Community Resources to Address Social Determinants

A rising number of hospices are building community partnerships to accommodate patientsʼ nonmedical needs, allowing them to continue receiving care in the home. These partnerships support quality patient care and position hospices to capitalize on the growing recognition among payers that addressing social determinants of health can reduce health care costs and improve patient satisfaction. Exploring opportunities to provide nonmedical services can open new revenue streams for hospices … “Thereʼs a whole population of people who are at risk for being in a nursing home. They may not yet need hospice care—they need practical help,” Christy Whitney, president and CEO of Colorado-based hospice provider

‘WannaCry’ Ransomware Hits 40% of Health Care Organizations

More that 40% of health care organizations have experienced a cyber attack involving the “WannaCry” ransomware cryptoworm within the past six months, according to a report by the cyber security firm Armis. Health care organizations, including hospices, continue to be the preferred target of cyber criminals who can glean patient names, insurance information, financial information, addresses, social security numbers and other data that hackers can use for identity theft or other fraudulent activity. 

Palmetto GBA Update

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