Dear Kiwi and Mango, I heard somewhere that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched the GUIDE Model for people with dementia and their caregivers? What is this all about? Thanks for your help! Cara Givva — Dear Cara, People living with dementia often experience multiple chronic conditions, as well as high rates […]
The Darker Side of Medicare Advantage Plans
Q. Last year, during the Medicare Open Enrollment Period, my wife and I saw a commercial on television for a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan that sounded almost too good to be true. The company seemed reputable, so we took the claims for better prices and a wider range of services at face value and quickly […]
Significant Improvements to Safety and Quality Care for Long-Term Care Residents
Last week, the Biden administration announced several nursing home reforms that will improve staffing and accountability at nursing homes throughout the country. Advocates are calling these the most significant reforms in decades. As part of Biden’s plan, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has updated a guidance on minimum health and safety standards […]
CMS Lifts COVID-19 Nursing Home Visitation Restrictions
Before the pandemic and even more so during it, social isolation and loneliness have been considered serious health risks for older Americans. Judith Gimbel worries that isolation is killing her mother, Ida, who she hasn’t seen in years but talks to on the phone often. “I don’t think she’s deteriorating … I know she is,” […]
CMS Launches New Compare Tool, Featuring All Eight Healthcare Tools in One Place
Lois’ mom moved to Northern Virginia last winter. Since she has been here, she has needed new doctors, a hospital for a surgical procedure, and a new physical therapist. Lois tried to be helpful in finding her mother names of providers using The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) compare tools, only to feel […]
Were You Double Billed by Medicare in September?
Dear Rune, Welcome to the Critter Corner! I hope you can help me. I believe I may have been double billed last month by Medicare. Is t his something that you have heard about, and if so, what should I do? Thanks for your help! Bill Twyce — Dear Bill, Thanks! I am very glad […]
CMS Finalizes Commitment to Person-Centered Care for Nursing Home Residents
Q. My father has Alzheimer’s, and he is no longer able to live safely on his own. Since my mother died, I have been his caregiver, and although trusting his care to strangers isn’t going to be easy, I know a nursing home is the right place for him at this time. My husband and […]
Government Raises the Bar on Nursing Home Ratings
Q. My father has dementia and will need skilled nursing care in the near future. There are so many nursing homes in this area to consider, and I have heard differing opinions from friends and family. How can we really know which one is best, and how can we afford it? A. When seniors and […]
How New Health Information Technology Will Save Money and Lives
Why is it that our most sensitive, personal data is often in an unorganized state of disarray? Most of us probably could more quickly pull a given DVD or book from our collections than proffer to a doctor a condition or illness we may have suffered 1, 2, 5, or 10 years ago! The electronic […]