On April 5, 2012, OSHA announced its new national emphasis program targeting nursing home and residential care facilities. This program is similar to the program OSHA embarked on in 2003-2004. However, the new program will also focus on workplace violence. The program is designed to address the protection of workers from serious safety and health hazards that are common in medical industries. National emphasis programs target specific hazards in an industry for a three-year period. This program will target nursing homes and residential care facilities in an effort to reduce occupational illnesses and injuries. Continue reading
Category Archives: Nursing Facility
Deadline to Submit CON Applications in Ohio is Rapidly Approaching
In 2009, House Bill 1 amended the Ohio Certificate of Need (“CON”) laws to permit inter-county relocations of long-term care beds under certain circumstances. Historically, Ohio CON laws prohibited relocating long-term care beds across county lines. Despite this amendment, the process to accomplish an inter-county relocation of beds remains heavily regulated, and in most cases must be commenced during brief windows of time set forth by the Ohio Department of Health. Continue reading
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Posted in Certificate of Need, Continuing Care, Health Care, Health Care Providers, Long Term Care, Nursing Facility, Nursing Home, Ohio, Post Acute Care, Regulation, Rehabilitation, Skilled Nursing Facility
Report on Results of Administrator Survey – Nationwide Program for Background Checks for Long-Term Care Employees
On January 19, 2012, the Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) released its Memorandum Report on the results of a long-term care provider administrator survey conducted pursuant to the Nationwide Program for National and State Background Checks on Direct Patient Access Employees of Long-Term-Care Facilities and Providers (the “Program”). The Program, established under Section 6201 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“PPACA”), is a voluntary program that provides grants to states to implement procedures to conduct background checks on prospective long-term care employees. The purpose of the OIG’s Memorandum Report was to report on the results of a survey that was conducted in order to collect baseline data on current background check practices in the long-term care industry. Continue reading
CMS Provides Guidance on PAs Performing SNF Certifications and Recertifications
CMS recently issued Transmittal 153, entitled – ”Allowing Physician Assistants to Perform Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Level of Care Certifications and Recertifications”. The transmittal provides guidance on the ability of physician assistants to perform level of care certifications and recertifications in skilled nursing facilities. The guidance implements Section 3108 of the Affordable Care Act. According the guidance, a physician assistant may now perform the certification or recertification if the physician assistant collaborates with the physician but does not have a direct or indirect employment relationship with the facility. The new rules become effective for items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2011.
You can find a copy of the new guidance here —> Transmittal 153
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Posted in Continuing Care, Health Care, Health Care Providers, Long Term Care, Long Term Care Hospital, Medicare, Nursing Facility, Nursing Home, Physician Assistants, Post Acute Care
Benesch
Ari J. Markenson, JD, MPH
Janet K. Feldkamp RN BSN LNHA CHC JD
Robert W. Markette, Jr. CHC
W. Clifford Mull
Frank W. Carsonie
Daniel J. O'Brien
Benjamin J. Parsons
Meredith L. Rosenbeck
Alan E. Schabes
