As the medical complexity of patients continues to increase, it is important for providers to be flexible in their ability to respond to current and future patient needs. But flexibility isn’t just important in an immediate crisis – it’s something healthcare leaders should be considering amid a rapidly changing healthcare landscape. Read Full Post

In the past, when determining the most effective care setting for chronically-ill and medically complex patients, health systems often viewed short-term acute care hospitals (STACHs) as the best option. However, as current data continues to highlight the benefits of LTACHs for patient recovery, many hospitals are beginning to integrate long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs) into their care continuum. Read Full Post

Between the COVID-19 pandemic and insurance coverage changes, patients and their family members have more choices for care than ever before. As consumers take on an increasing share of their healthcare costs, they are more concerned about the convenience of their care and the level of service they receive from various healthcare settings. They are also more aware of the differences in various levels of care, and which care setting may be best for them. During a recent Advisory Board National Meeting, Kindred was featured in a case study that focused best practices for the first 24 hours after a patient’s admission. The meeting, titled Meeting Consumer Needs in Post-Acute and Senior Care, featured a number of industry experts in the post-acute space who shared strategies to build trust when consumer confidence is at an all-time high. Read Full Post

More community-based health systems are leveraging strategic partnerships to help navigate the fluctuating and complex healthcare landscape, especially those within the behavioral health space. Research from JAMA Network Open supports this trend, stating local community hospitals that partner with… Read Full Post

The survey explored key opportunities around post-acute services, including market expansion, quality measurement and partnership. Read Full Post

Earlier this year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) raised the possibility of moving forward with a proposed pre- or post-claim review demonstration program in up to four states in 2021 despite industry pushback. Since the initial announcement, CMS continues to push for advancement of the program. Stakeholders noted the implementation would increase the administrative burden already placed on providers dealing with staffing shortages and capacity issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read Full Post

Common misconceptions surrounding long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs) have hindered health systems from including LTACHs in their market expansion strategies - ultimately limiting access to critical care options for medically complex patients. However, as health systems begin to uncover the true value of LTACH integration, they can start begin to reap the benefits it provides to patient care, outcomes, and hospital efficiencies. Read Full Post

A rehabilitation partner that not only values the patient, but also their family members and caregivers, is a crucial asset to creating a successful rehabilitation program. Additionally, an expert partner is one that can integrate both organizations’ missions and values to help ensure the quality of care is maintained, while still upholding the characteristics that make the local facility unique to the community. Read Full Post

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF PPS), for fiscal year (FY) 2022. The payment rule took effect October 1, 2021. Read Full Post

Co-location or offering multiple specialty services, such as inpatient rehabilitation, behavioral health and/or long-term acute care under one roof or campus is becoming an important strategy for health systems as the number of medically complex patients continues to increase. This model allows for greater bed flexibility, streamlined care transitions, and helps lead to higher care quality and reduced readmissions. Read Full Post