November Newsletter
House Passes Health Care Reform Bill
Washington (CNN) -- The House of Representatives… passed a sweeping health care bill by a vote of 220-215.
With the passage of H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, proponents of health care reform took an important step forward, but turning the bill into law remains uncertain.
Read the CNN report and watch video clips
Newly Released Information on MDS 3.0
New MDS 3.0 forms are now posted on CMS’ MDS 3.0 webpage. The zip file MDS 3.0 Item Subsets contains printable documents with the required subset of data items for each MDS 3.0 assessment and tracking document (e.g. admission, quarterly, annual, significant change, discharge, entry, etc…). The MDS 3.0 RAI Manual publication is scheduled for release in November/December. Please note this message from CMS: "CMS strongly encourages that all parties refrain from or delay conducting training until after the ‘Train-the-Trainer’ sessions have been completed (scheduled for the spring 2010)."
Get all the new MDS 3.0 information
CMS Satellite Broadcasts
Upcoming CMS broadcasts including “H1N1 and the Elderly” and “MDS 3.0 - Part 1”
See all upcoming broadcasts
“Quality Indicator Survey (QIS) Process” broadcast 10-23-09: This archived broadcast was mandatory for CMS regional office and State survey agency staff who survey nursing home providers.
See all archived broadcasts
Holiday Food Safety
The Partnership for Food Safety Education brings you HolidayFoodSafety.org with food safety tips, recipes and menu suggestions.
Holiday food safety tips, recipes, more!
10 Tips for Staying Slim During the Holidays
The holidays are right around the corner and let's face it, we consider it the one time of the year we can overindulge and take a break from watching our weight. Food is everywhere! So this year, instead of struggling to lose weight after the holidays, why not just prevent the holiday weight gain?
10 healthy eating tips for the holidays!
Horses Help Comfort Seniors With Memory Problems
Ravaged by Alzheimer's disease, Chris Klabunde, 73, speaks very little and sometimes forgets when he has eaten his last meal. But recently he returned home, chatting up a storm about a gentle old draft horse named Woody that he had brushed and stroked at the Main Stay Therapeutic Riding Program in Richmond. "He told everybody about it -- his kids, his grandkids," said his wife, Peggie, of Woodstock, who was amazed.
Horses make them happy;)
H1N1 Questions and Answers from CDC
More News Stories on our Top News Page
1. House Bill Would Offer Some Medicaid Funding To Nursing Homes, Reduce Medicare Market Basket
The House healthcare reform bill would offer a temporary Medicaid payment program that would provide $6 billion to certain nursing homes for four years.
2. Like Miracles? Say Hi To Joel - A Former Rehab Patient
Jim Herzberg has 500 acres of corn and soybeans ready to harvest, and you couldn't get him near a combine on this gorgeous October afternoon.
3. Providing More Options For Seniors
Keeping …senior citizens healthy and in their homes and their communities for as long as possible without needing nursing home care is a primary goal of Project 2020 proposed legislation.
4. CMS Updates Special Focus Facility (“SFF”) List 10-22-09
This webpage offers a list of nursing homes that (a) had a history of serious quality issues and (b) are included in a special program to stimulate improvements in their quality of care.
5. Long Term Care Costs Rise 3.3% In 2009
Despite the economy and subsequent fall in market prices, the cost of long-term care has gone up.
6. Nursing Homes Show Improvement Despite Bleak Overall Healthcare Picture, States' Scorecards Reveal
Nursing homes overall showed a marked improvement in a number of quality of care areas, including fewer instances of pressure ulcers, less use of physical restraints and reduced reports of pain.
Read all of these top news stories
New! 2010 Edition!
Excellent for nursing homes or hospitals! New information on F371 food safety/sanitation, F325 nutrition/unintended weight loss, person centered dining and more! Step-by-step guidelines to ensure compliance to regulations and promote optimal health of individuals in your care.
Shipping in early December
One Time Low Introductory Member Price!
Order Now!
Seminars by Dr. Wolf Rinke, PhD, RD, CSP
Dr. Wolf Rinke is a noted management, leadership and personal development expert, ranked by Executive Excellence magazine among “the top 100 minds” in the field of personal and leadership development along with Tom Peters, Oprah Winfrey and Stephen Covey.
Recorded/Online: Positive Attitude - The Key to Success in Tough Economic Times
Jan. 12: How to Make 2010 Your Best Year Ever!
Upcoming Webinars/Teleseminars
Dec 1 When Momma Ain’t Happy (Person Centered Care) - Diana Waugh, RN
Jan 12 How to Make 2010 Your Best Year Ever! - Dr. Wolf Rinke, RD, CSP
Jan 20 Diabetes Update - Lisa Brown, RD, CDE and Kim Fox, RD, CDE
Feb 24 Gluten Free Diets - Shelly Case, MS, RD
Mar 16 Nutrition for Breast & Prostate Cancer - Sylvia Escott Stump, MS, RD, LD
Apr 21 Nutrition Care Process - Elise Smith, RD
See all posted teleseminars
New! Wellness Education Products
Our new line of wellness products are designed to help you educate your clients and staff in a fun and visual format. Choose from "The 12 Lessons of Wellness and Weight Loss," Portion Video, food label game, "4 lessons of Blood Pressure: and much more! PowerPoint shows, posters, handouts and leader guides will help you communicate your educational message through professional and stimulating presentations.
See All Wellness Products!
