CMS (The Centers For Medicare And Medicaid Services) has proposed a significant funding increase for post acute care services provided by skilled nursing homes. This is part of its annual pay rules review for skilled nursing facilities, hospices, and inpatient rehab facilities. CMS: New Rules Help Skilled Nursing Homes Skilled nursing facilities …
Diabetics number in the hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Most diagnosed cases of diabetes are Type 2. In type 2 diabetes, cells lose their ability to use insulin to convert glucose, (blood sugar), into energy. There are approximately 23 million diabetes cases in the United States, and the estimated annual cost of this disease …
The House of Representatives at the end of last week passed a major bill that expands access to opioid treatment programs and increases funding. The new legislation called the Support for Patients and Communities Act, expands the use of telehealth services opioid abuse and improves care for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome. In addition, the …
Pulmonary hypertension is a very serious disease. It is one type of high blood pressure that constricts the arteries in your lungs and on the right side of your heart. The tiny arteries in your lungs get narrow, blocked, or destroyed. This makes it harder for blood to flow through your lungs, and consequently raises …
Neurological care provided by skilled professionals offers hope for at least a partial recovery of function, and in some cases, even a full cure. Neurological Care: Long List of Neurological Disorders Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, have identified over 600 disorders of the nervous system. In response, an entire class …
Bariatric surgery reduces the size of your stomach so that less food is absorbed. According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), you must have a body mass index (BMI) of at least 40, or be more than 100 pounds overweight to qualify for this surgery. Bariatric surgery can also be an …
New Medicare cards are in the mail. The objective is to prevent fraud and stop identity theft. Congress has changed the design of the card so that it is difficult for thieves to steal your ID and rip you off. The new Medicare cards don’t show your Social Security number, gender, and signature. …
Alzheimer’s Awareness Month is being observed this month. Alzheimer’s Awareness Month: Incurable Disease Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills. Eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks becomes impossible. In most people with the disease, symptoms first appear in their mid-60s. Alzheimer’s …
Cardiac rehab can be extremely effective, yet many heart attack victims choose to bypass it. Rehab improves the ability of the heart to return quickly to a normal rate after exercise, and that in turn doubles the chances of survival. Cardiac Rehab: Goals The goals of rehab are reducing your risk of …