Colorado Ranked Third-Best State For Aging

Posted: July 26, 2018

Health & Fitness Cheat Sheet says here are 10 states you should consider moving to for the sake of your health as you grow older, as well as the five states you should completely avoid.

Colorado ranks third overall and the best for physical activity and family caregiver support. 

"You’ve probably heard good things about Colorado if you haven’t yet been there," the publication says. "And for aging seniors, it might just be the perfect place to settle down. U.S. News & World Report ranks the state No. 3 for overall health, and it also has the fifth lowest number of residents with mental distress. As far as physical activity and able-bodiedness are concerned, the state ranks extremely well in these two areas, too.

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Judson Haims: What Happens To Your Health Care When There's No Nurse

Posted: July 26, 2018

The United States is in a nursing profession shortage, and it is impacting the delivery of care, Judson Haims writes in The Vail Daily. 

On Wednesday, July 18, Gov. John Hickenlooper's administration and the Commission on Higher Education met to discuss the state's growing shortage of nurses. One of the concerns they addressed was the ever-increasing cost of higher education. Because the tuition cost for a four-year nursing bachelor's degree is so expensive, many people interested in becoming a nurse only complete a two-year associate degree in nursing, often at a community college.

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Members Only: New Article from Elizabeth E. Hogue, Esq.

Veteran Home Care Attorney Elizabeth E. Hogue has an article of importance for home-care and hospice providers. 

Members: Read the article here (you must be signed in to view)

NAHC Concerned About CMS Proposed Changes to HHVBP Model

Posted: July 26, 2018

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its proposed home health rule earlier this month. The rule contains payment rate updates for home health agencies for calendar year (CY) 2019 and a proposal for a revised payment model, Patient Directed Grouping Model, effective in CY 2020. In addition to payment updates, CMS has proposed several other policy changes that impact home health agencies.  One key change is CMS’ proposals for the home health value based purchasing model.

The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) has concerns with the numerous changes that will have a direct effect on an agency’s TPS and annual adjustments. Payment year 4 carries a potential 7 % adjustment in payment rates, which could be significant if an agency were to receive the full 7% reduction in payments. NAHC will be recommending that CMS delay the implementation of these changes to allow agencies time to implement strategies for success and change behaviors aimed at providing higher quality of care that CMS hopes to achieve with the HHVBP model.  

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