“Study links 3 key risk factors to coronavirus deaths among older adults,” by Alicia Lasek, McKnight’s LTC News   Quote: “Three key factors are tied to mortality in adults with coronavirus, a study of hospitalized patients has found. The findings could help clinicians better identify high-risk individuals, say investigators. The researchers followed 191 cases in Wuhan, China, facilities. Two-thirds had severe or critical illness, and 54 died in the hospital. Compared to survivors, patients who died were more likely to be older (average age 69 vs. 52), and to have confirmed signs of sepsis and blood clotting problems on admission. Other
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“CMS to ‘Immediately’ Refocus Nursing Home Inspections on Infection Control Amid Coronavirus,” by Maggie Flynn, Skilled Nursing News   Quote: “In the wake of an outbreak of the novel coronavirus at a Washington nursing home, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will immediately refocus inspections of skilled nursing facilities on compliance with the agency’s infection control policies — and suspend all non-emergency survey work, the agency announced on Wednesday.”     LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform): Virus concerns induce CMS to change survey focus from Medicaid-induced quality problems to survival itself.
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“One LTCI Producer’s Take on Nursing Home Closures,” by Romeo Raabe Quote: “Over 550 nursing closed in the US in the past 4 years, 328 in just the past 20 months.  More than half the closures were in just 9 states, Wisconsin among them.   Brown County, WI has lost 4 in the past 4 years with the last one closing next month at the corner of Webster Ave and Mason St in Green Bay.  This hits even harder in rural areas with few (if any) alternatives. “Nursing homes make their money two ways – most call themselves rehab centers and
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“An update from the ILTCI Conference regarding COVID-19,” by Robert Eaton, ILTCI Conference Quote: ILTCI 2020 Attendees: We believe that the immediate risk of COVID-19 (aka the coronavirus disease 2019) does not currently warrant any change in our ILTCI meeting plans. We are actively monitoring the situation on a day to day basis, with the safety and security of our attendees in mind. We are also in constant contact with the Sheraton Denver, who remains committed to hosting our conference. We will provide any updates to our plans via email and through the conference website. We remain excited about this conference
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“Innovation in the LTC Insurance Market,” by Bruce Stahl, Long Term Care News Quote: “Say what you will about long-term care insurance (LTCI) pricing, administration and financial management strategies in the early to mid-1990s, yet you must speak well of the many product ideas insurers implemented at that time. Back then, insurance companies sought to design LTCI products that would satisfy consumer needs and concerns. Nursing home-only policies saw coverage added for adult day care and assisted living facilities, home health care benefits substantially strengthened and benefit period maximums changed to lifetime maximums. Providers also altered the benefit qualification requirement
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