There are just a few key reasons why Medicare has become inordinately expensive. There is no end in sight for cost escalation. But there are some obvious solutions and they all begin with chronic illnesses. Chronic illness – diabetes, heart failure, cancer, chronic lung disease, etc. – are increasing at exponential rates; are caused largely […]
Two years ago, Dorothy Holmes, then 75, was in the cozy pink bathroom of her mobile home getting ready to shower when she fell. It's the type of accident that's pervasive among older Americans - and it's often the very thing that triggers the end of in...
Munck Wilson Mandala Partner Greg Howison shared his perspective on some of the legal ramifications around AI, IP, connected devices and the data they generate, in response to emailed questions.
Big health spending variations throughout the country are largely driven by differences in the use of post-acute services such as skilled nursing homes and home health care by Medicare beneficiaries, and by higher prices that some hospitals and do...
In an effort to move away from the traditional model of a nursing home, a nonprofit organization has developed an alternative — smaller scale housing for elderly residents. They’re referred to as Green Houses. The idea is that small homes of roughly 10 residents can improve social interaction and the quality of life and health […]
Hospitals don't have to tell patients they are under "observation" care and Medicare will not cover the costs of that care if the patient is not admitted. Patients who are not admitted for at least three consecutive days do not qualify Medicare's nursing home coverage. Advocates have filed a lawsuit to change these rules.
For those of us in healthcare, “going green” isn’t a fad; it’s a business reality. Conserving resources and taking advantage of new technologies not only improves the environment – it improves the bottom line as well. Most importantly, streamlined communication means better care for our patients and more peace of mind for their families. In […]
At the Abarca Forward conference earlier this year, George Van Antwerp, managing director at Deloitte, discussed how social determinants of health and a personalized member experience can improve medication adherence and health outcomes.
As the aging population creates more demand for long-term care and home health services, bringing down costs is a top priority. But another concern that should be top of mind, according to health IT company SafeCare LLC, is the safety of patients living in nursing homes or receiving home health care. The Cleveland-based startup works […]
Using partnerships, medication reconciliation, and discharge plans designed for individual patients will help hospitals keep patients from returning too soon.
Now here’s something you don’t hear every day: an innovation for the adult diaper. With a two-fold purpose of improving urinary incontinence care while standardizing data collection, Gweepi Medical Inc. is developing a wireless sensor and software system for nursing homes and other healthcare providers. Gweepi’s disposable sensor patch is applied to a diaper. When […]
For years, states have struggled to raise the quality of care in nursing homes using a regulatory stick – citations, fines and other sanctions when serious problems are discovered. Irene DuRell, 82, works on what she calls a German star by intricat...
We will highlight Build My Health's revenue practice management tools, which could help physician practices add up to $250,000 to their practices.