Midwest SNFs Would Be Hit Hard By Sequester

If the government sequester goes into effect, skilled nursing facilities in the Midwest could pay a big price.

The sequester would cut Medicare reimbursement by 2 percent, which would amount to $782.5 million in fiscal year 2014. While California would take the biggest hit, Illinois, Ohio and Michigan are also on the list of the 10 states that would be most impacted.

To learn more, click here.

White House Supports States' Rights to Slash Medicaid Payments

In a court brief filed Monday, the White House said it supports the states' ability to reduce Medicaid payments to long-term care operators and other healthcare providers. The related court case was brought by California providers over the state's proposed payment cuts.

The White House specifically noted that it supports California's right to cut Medicaid payments to a number of providers by 10 percent. The reductions were also approved by CMS in October of 2011.

The White House's court brief also said that states have wide discretion in setting payment rates and that rates can and should be evaluated "to avoid the perpetuation of payment rates that are unnecessarily high."

To learn more, click here.

Let's Work Together To Design Better Care

When it’s time to renovate your facility, turn to the experts. Professional Medical has partnered with Basic American to offer a complimentary design program that aims to enhance resident comfort and wellness. We want to help you create a warm, home-like environment that your residents and their families will enjoy.

Not only will you avoid having to pay an interior designer’s hourly charges, you’ll also be partnering with a team of professionals who are in tune with the specific challenges of designing for long-term care. Our team is detail-oriented and aware of the codes and regulations that need to be taken into account when designing a space that is both attractive and functional.

We provide the following services, all at no charge:

• Space planning
• Schematic design
•  Design development
• Furniture selection
• Color and materials selection
• Custom furniture and millwork design
• Artwork selection
• Graphics and signage
• Accessories and lighting specifications
• Installation administration
• In-house purchasing

 Whether you’re looking to spruce up or completely overhaul resident rooms, dining areas, activity spaces, common areas or office settings, experienced interior designers are ready to help you create the perfect look for your facility.

To learn more, contact your ProMed territory manager or call our Customer Care team at (800) 648-5190. 

Illinois Medicaid Cuts Fall Short By $464 Million

Governor Pat Quinn's plan to save the state's beleaguered Medicaid program $1.6 billion has fallen short by $464 million, according to a new report.

While some components of the plan have been successfully implemented, such as dropping Medicaid coverage for thousands of working parents and eliminating coverage of dental care and visits to chiropractors for adults, others have not been implemented. Other components, such as changing the way citizens are deemed eligible for nursing home care, have been rejected by the federal government.

To learn more, click here.

Flu Vaccine Only Effective for 9% of Seniors This Year

This year's flu vaccine was woefully ineffective for seniors, according to new figures released by the CDC.

A survey of nearly 2,700 adults and children revealed that the vaccine was effective for only 9 percent of recipients age 65 and older. According to the CDC, this means it protected a "statistically insignificant" number of seniors from needing outpatient medical attention for the flu. This could be because seniors did not respond to the vaccine's Influenza A (H3N2) component.

This year's flu-related death rate for seniors reached extremely high levels. Traditionally, seniors are more severely affected by the flu and often less responsive to the vaccine than younger people. However, the CDC cautions that this should not be seen as a reason to discredit the need for the vaccine.

To learn more, click here.

Study: At-Work Foot Massages Help Relieve Caregiver Stress

A new study has proven what many of us already know: foot massages are relaxing.

Researchers in Australia conducted a pilot trial involving caregivers who work with seniors who have dementia. The caregivers could receive up to three 10-minute foot massages a week, given during their shifts at a long-term care facility. The control group in the study did not receive foot massages.

The researchers found that the caregivers who received massages had lower diastolic blood pressure and significantly lower levels of anxiety than those in the control group.

To learn more, click here.

Legislators Urge FDA to Act Faster on Painkiller Restrictions

Congressional lawmakers, in a letter, are urging the FDA to speed up their plans to tighten access to hydrocodone painkillers, including Vicodin. The letter was written by Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia and signed by a bipartisan group of five other senators and two representatives.

Last month, an FDA advisory committee voted in favor of tightening restrictions on the highly addictive painkillers. The new restrictions would require that hydrocodone be stored in vaults at healthcare facilities and would require that patients receive new prescriptions for refills, which they would not be able to obtain by fax or phone. It would also prevent nurse practitioners and physician assistants from prescribing hydrocodone.

Critics have said that the refill requirement would be a burden to nursing home residents with limited mobility, who would have to visit their doctors to receive the drugs.

To learn more, click here.

How To Shut Out Rain-Out

What springs to mind when you think of wintertime annoyances? Snow, surely. Cold temperatures. A lack of sunlight. For those who work in long-term care, oxygen concentrator rain-out is likely on the list as well.

Rain-out refers to the condensation that develops and collects in oxygen tubing when a humidifier is being used. As warm, humid, oxygenated air travels down the tubing, moisture condenses and collects when it hits cooler areas of the tubing, typically in the section of tubing that sits on the floor. This moisture, which is a breeding ground for bacteria and can lead to respiratory infections, eventually makes its way out of the tubing and into the resident’s nose.

Rain-out worsens in the winter because floors tend to be colder during this time of year. It is also more likely to occur when long oxygen tubing is used. For example, 50 feet of tubing allows the oxygen to come in contact with the cold surface for a longer period of time than 25 feet of tubing. 

The following tips can help you curb rain-out in your facility:

• Eliminate the humidifier, if feasible.
• If a humidifier is used, fill the bottle with room temperature or cool water.
• Shorten the tubing length or use hooks or straps to elevate the tubing off the floor.
• Use tubing that features an in-line water trap, which collects water and prevents it from being passed on to the resident. It should be located in the tubing near the cannula end to achieve the best results.
• Place the concentrator in a shaded, larger and well-ventilated room. This will prevent a buildup of heat from the sun or other heating sources.
• Keep the machine at least eight inches from the wall to provide adequate ventilation. You should also make sure that the air intake filter is kept clean.
• Make sure there are no leaks, kinks or weak connections in the tubing.

CMS Seeks Feedback on SNF Therapy Payment Changes

CMS is asking for input on potential changes to the payment system for therapy provided by skilled nursing facilities.

CMS is working with Acumen, LLC and the Brooks Institution to research ways to improve the payment system. The agency currently does not consider patient characteristics and special care requirements when they set rates for therapy payments to skilled nursing facilities. Instead, payments are made on a per-diem basis under Medicare Part A, through the SNF prospective payment system.

Operators can share their ideas with CMS by sending them to snftherapypayments@cms.hhs.gov. The provider input period will end in Autumn of 2013 at the latest.

To learn more, click here.

Don't Be SAD: Identifying and Treating Seasonal Affective Disorder

Winter can cause even the most buoyant spirits to sink. It's cold outside, the sun disappears earlier and many people find themselves staring at the same four walls day in and day out. It's a dreary situation indeed – but for many people, perhaps including your residents, it's far more serious than a case of the winter blues. Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, occurs repeatedly at the same time of year, typically beginning in the fall and ending in spring. Although rare, some people experience the opposite – they become depressed when spring or summer roll around.

Causes

Despite extensive research, the exact causes of SAD are unknown. According to the Mayo Clinic, it's likely that, as with many other mental health conditions, genetics, age and a person's natural chemical makeup play a role in developing the disorder. Being female, living far from the equator and having a family history of SAD are also risk factors for developing the condition.¹

Other causes are thought to include¹:

• Melatonin levels. Melatonin, a natural hormone, plays a role in sleep patterns and moods. When the seasons change, the melatonin balance can be disrupted.
• Circadian rhythm. Fall and winter bring with them a reduced amount of sunlight. This can upset the body's circadian rhythm, or internal clock, which tells a person when they should be awake or sleeping. This disruption can lead to depression.
• Serotonin levels. Serotonin is a brain chemical (neurotransmitter) that affects mood. Reduced sunlight can cause serotonin levels to drop, leading to depression.

Symptoms

SAD is a cyclic condition, which means that symptoms come back and go away at the same time every year. Symptoms include¹:

• Depression
• Hopelessness
• Anxiety
• Loss of energy
• Social withdrawal
• Oversleeping
• Loss of interest in activities
• Changes in appetite (especially a craving for high-carbohydrate foods)

Symptoms might start out mild and grow worse as the season progresses. If left untreated, SAD can lead to suicidal thoughts or behavior, social withdrawal and substance abuse.¹

Diagnosis

In order to receive a diagnosis of SAD, individuals need to have experienced depression and other symptoms for at least two consecutive years, and during the same season each year. Those periods of depression also need to have been followed stretches of time without depression. Finally, there must be no other explanations for the change in mood or behavior.¹

Note: This is an excerpt of an article that originally appeared in Volume 2, Issue 1 of Embrace magazine. To continue reading the article, click here. 

New Oral Antibiotic Shows Promise for Treating MRSA-Related Skin Infections

According to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, a new oral antibiotic may effectively treat MRSA-related skin infections more quickly than the only oral drug currently approved for treating these infections.

The new oral antibiotic is tedizolid phosphate, which was determined to be "clinically noninferior" to linezolid, the only drug currently approved for treating skin structure infections, or SSIs, caused by MRSA. These infections can be deadly.

The researchers also noted that there have been outbreaks of linezolid-resistant strains of MRSA.

To learn more, click here.

St. Jude Medical Recalls Heart Implant Tool

St. Jude Medical has recalled the AMPLATZER TorqVue FX Delivery System, a tool that is used to to help mend a type of heart defect that causes holes in the upper chambers of the heart. The FDA is classifying the action as a Class I recall, meaning that patients treated with the devices could be seriously injured or killed.

The recall comes after a small number of incidents in which the delivery system's wire fractured during surgery. The recalled devices were manufactured between August 24 and September 24 of 2012.

To learn more, click here.

Create a Sweet Valentine’s Day

If you haven’t planned your facility’s Valentine’s Day party yet, don’t worry. We’ve got plenty of ideas to help you make the holiday memorable for your residents!

Craft your own Valentines

Thanks to pre-cut paper shapes, it’s easier than ever to make homemade Valentines. Visit your local craft supply store to stock up on multicolored paper hearts, Cupids and lace doilies. Provide your residents with non-toxic glue sticks to attach the shapes to each other. You could also give them large, flat-backed rhinestones to “bedazzle” their creations.

Make better-for-you goodies

There’s no need for residents with diabetes to completely avoid sweet treats on Valentine’s Day. The American Diabetes Association has whipped up recipes for healthier takes on desserts, including Low-Fat Crème Brulee, Peppermint Mousse and Individual S’more Desserts.

Share hot cocoa and memories

Encourage your residents to gather together in a common room for cocoa and reminiscing about Valentine’s Day. You can get the ball rolling by asking questions. For example, do they prefer to receive chocolates or flowers? Did they ever have a secret admirer? What is their fondest Valentine’s Day memory? You might be surprised by what you learn!

We wish you and your residents a happy Valentine’s Day! 

U.S. Recovers Record Amount from Healthcare Fraud Probes

On Monday, the Obama administration announced that it recovered a record $4.2 billion in 2012 from individuals and companies committing healthcare fraud. For every dollar the government spent, it was able to recover $7.90.

This is the highest three-year average return on investment since the federal Health Care Fraud and Abuse Program was established 16 years ago.

To learn more, click here.

Great News: Flu Has Peaked In Chicago

The Director of the Chicago Department of Public Health has said that the city's flu season is "winding down" after getting off to an early and active start. This is certainly welcome news for a city that, like most of the nation, has been suffering the effects of a particularly nasty strain of flu and has even had to reroute patients when emergency rooms hit their capacity.

In addition to Chicago, data shows that the flu is decreasing across most parts of the country.

Despite this good news, the CDC is still anticipating the flu season will get worse for the elderly population before it shows signs of improvement. Seniors account for more than half of all flu-related hospitalizations.

To learn more, click here.

Proposed CMS Rule Would Grant Extension On Sprinkler Installation

CMS has proposed a new rule that would give some nursing homes a two-year extension on a requirement that they install automatic sprinkler systems.

To receive the extension, nursing homes would need to meet certain stipulations, such as implementing interim fire safety measures or certifying that they are undergoing major renovations or building a new structure.

According to CMS, the new rule is designed to "reform Medicare regulations that CMS has identified as unnecessary, obsolete or excessively burdensome on health care providers and suppliers."

To learn more, click here.

Flu-Related Fatality Rate Hits Record High for Seniors

The CDC is reporting that this is the worst flu season for seniors since they started tracking the 65-and-older flu-related death rate in 2005.

Last week, the fatality rate for laboratory-confirmed influenza cases among seniors reached 116 per 100,000. The previous record was 90 deaths per 100,000. Seniors also account for more than half of all flu-related hospitalizations.

While the national flu-related hospitalization rate is leveling off, the CDC anticipates that the worst is still to come for the elderly population.

To learn more, click here.

Be Skin Smart This Winter

Cold weather can zap the moisture right out of skin, leaving it dry, itchy and flaky. Your residents’ skin, just like yours, needs extra TLC during the winter to keep it soft and supple.

There are two main factors that affect skin during the winter: a lack of moisture in the air and colder temperatures. When there is less moisture in the air, the water that skin naturally produces to protect and seal itself evaporates more easily, causing skin to become dry and cracked. Skin that is exposed to the cold winter air is vulnerable to conditions like frostbite and pernio, a painful inflammation of the small blood vessels in response to sudden warming from cold temperatures.¹

Luckily, there are a number of simple steps you can take to protect your residents’ delicate skin from winter weather, including:

• Ask your supplier which products they would recommend to deliver extra moisture to skin that is battered by the elements. Some products, including Embrace Moisturizing Cleanser & Skin Protectant with Breathable Barrier, can perform multiple skin care functions, eliminating the need for multiple products.
• Moisturize resident skin frequently with a product that creates a protective layer on the skin to help retain moisture, such as Embrace Skin Repair Cream.
•  If residents will be going outside, apply sunscreen to their faces and hands and make sure they are wearing hats, mittens and scarves to protect their skin from the cold. If their clothing gets wet, change it as soon as possible. Damp clothing can lead to skin breakdown, itching, sores and eczema flare-ups.
• Consider placing several small humidifiers throughout the building. These help to put more moisture into the air, which helps prevent skin from becoming dry.

Professional Medical’s exclusive Embrace skin care line can help you provide top-notch year-round skin care to your residents. To learn more, contact your territory manager or give us a call at (800) 648-5190.

References

1 The Mayo Clinic. Simple Self-care Steps Can Ensure Healthy Skin, Even During Winter Weather. Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-edge-newspaper-2011/nov-25b.html. Accessed January 30, 2013. 

Medicaid To Be Spared in 2014 Obama Budget Proposal

According to White House advisor Gene Sperling, the director of the National Economic Council, the Obama administration will not cut Medicaid spending in its upcoming 2014 budget proposal. Instead, the administration focus on overall healthcare cost containment through bundled payments and Accountable Care Organizations.

To learn more, click here.

Anti-Fraud Initiative Database Unveiled

Information on how states are combating Medicare fraud and abuse is now just a mouse click away. A new database, created by the Pew Charitable Trusts, contains data from 70 reports published by CMS on states' anti-fraud initiatives.

The information is broken down into four categories:

• Screening of potential and existing Medicaid beneficiaries
• Prepayment claim reviews 
• "Pay and chase" programs designed to recover improperly paid funds
• Practices that involve more than one of the three above categories 

To access the database, click here.