A slowing gait could be one of the first observable changes in people who will develop Alzheimer’s disease and/or dementia.

In early August, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a final rule impacting rules and reimbursement for Skilled Nursing Facilities effective October 1, 2014. Of particular interest to RehabCare – and our parent company, Kindred – was the ongoing discussion of the development of a new methodology for paying for therapy services received in the SNF.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule detailing Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) Medicare policies and payment rates which go into effect at the start of fiscal year 2015 on October 1, 2014. As we previously reported, RehabCare took the opportunity to respond to CMS’ earlier proposed rule to advocate on behalf of IRF-level care and those patients who benefit from such care. Read about the final rule and RehabCare's comments.

PEPPER reports were issued last fall by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to highlight areas in which facilities are at risk for improper Medicare reimbursement. Have you accessed yours?

Don’t forget that today RehabCare and McKnight’s Long-Term Care News present “Maintaining Function Beyond Therapy: Ensuring Effective and Efficient Transitions.” Take the opportunity to join our webinar and learn more about what Jimmo vs. Sebelius means for your rehab department and how successful wellness programs can help patients preserve gains made during therapy.

Together with McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, RehabCare is presenting a webinar on July 30: “Maintaining Function Beyond Therapy: Ensuring Effective and Efficient Transitions.” Please join us!

RehabCare Advantage published a series of posts about our favorite mobile applications beginning in 2012. Our therapists continue to reap the benefits of using apps on their company mobile devices while delivering care, so we want to provide an update with some can’t-miss apps. Mobile applications have tremendous opportunities to make therapy engaging while saving paper. Adults and children alike can benefit from the use of apps in therapy. These are a few mobile applications that come highly recommended by RehabCare therapists and other clinicians.

In response to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) proposed rule regarding new potential updates to the payments and care delivery for Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (IRFs) beginning October 1, 2014, RehabCare submitted formal comments and reactions prior to the June 30 deadline.

In response to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) proposed rule regarding new potential updates to the payments and care delivery for Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) beginning October 1, 2014, Kindred Healthcare, RehabCare’s parents company, and RehabCare submitted formal comments and reactions prior to the June 30 deadline.

Aphasia is a language disorder that affects nearly one-third of stroke victims. Aphasia occurs when there is damage to the communications hub in the left side of the brain. While aphasia disrupts communication skills, it does not affect a person’s thinking skills. It is critical to watch for signs and symptoms of aphasia following a stroke, and during Aphasia Awareness Month we want to remind people what to look for if a patient or loved one is at increased risk for the disorder.