10/28/2025

PALTC News - October 22

Toolkit for Improving Skin Care and MDRO Prevention in Long-Term Care

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
This toolkit outlines four evidence-based strategies to reduce infection risks and maintain skin integrity among long-term care residents, including keeping skin clean and safe, reducing MDRO transmission, using antibiotics wisely, and cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces. Read more.

Residents Inspire New Dining Approaches at Senior Living Communities

McKnight's Senior Living
Senior living companies are taking new approaches to dining, using resident preferences to drive innovative choices. One senior living chef is even hoping he can win a coveted James Beard Award. Read more.

As Shutdown Persists, Providers Continue Offering Telehealth in Hopes of Backpay

McKnight's Home Care
Some telehealth providers have continued to provide virtual care services during the government shutdown, hoping that CMS will offer retroactive reimbursement. But CMS has not guaranteed backpay, so these providers may be taking a significant risk, according to the American Telemedicine Association. Read more.

Yet Another Commission? Seriously?

McKnight's Long-Term Care News
In this column, Dr. Michael Wasserman, a member of PALTmed's board, questions the federal government's plan to create yet another Long-Term Care Advisory Commission. Read more.

Care Access, Costs in Medicare Varies Widely Across States, Commonwealth Fund Report Finds

McKnight's Home Care
While Medicare was designed to offer uniform benefits to all older adults across the United States, beneficiaries in some states fare much better than others, according to a new "State Scorecard on Medicare Performance" by The Commonwealth Fund, a nonprofit healthcare research firm. Read more.

Why It's Time for In-Home Care to Catch Up to the Value-Based Care Movement

MedCity News
From primary care to hospital systems, many sectors have embraced the transition to value-based care, showing improvements in health care costs, patient satisfaction and outcomes. Yet one critical segment has been slower to adapt: in-home care. Read more.