Long Term Care & Senior Living Blog

Illinois is now one of four states to allow the installation of electronic monitoring devices in residents’ rooms in long-term care facilities. The bill was proposed by Attorney General Lisa Madigan, approved by the Illinois General Assembly, and signed into law by Governor Bruce Rauner. The bill takes effect on January 1, 2016.[1]

The Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition (SCPC) recently released a study comparing the differences between LTC and Retail Pharmacies. I thought this study may be of interest to some firm clients, who have LTC pharmacies as part of their businesses. Many assisted living facilities (ALFs) and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) provide pharmacy services for residents in their facilities, as well as provide medication therapy management and other clinical offerings to help improve the quality of care. The differences between LTC pharmacy and retail pharmacy often result in greater costs being incurred by LTC pharmacies. To ensure the important role LTC pharmacies play in the healthcare continuum, it is important that lawmakers and regulators understand the differences demonstrated in the study. Here’s a link to the SCPC article, and a link to the actual study conducted by Avalere Health.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed changes that may impact the way pharmaceuticals, especially those containing hazardous waste ingredients, are handled through reverse distribution. Organizations generating pharmaceutical waste including pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, long-term care facilities and physicians groups may be impacted. The following excerpt comes from the EPA website.

Last December Missouri House Representative Bill White introduced HB 100, titled the Adult Health Care Consent Act. This bill attempts to specify the order of priority of persons entitled to make health care decisions for an individual who has been certified as physically and cognitively unable to consent to his or her own health care.

Sandberg Phoenix & von Gontard is pleased to announce the Long-term Care Team comprised of Associates and Shareholders from the Health Law Practice Group. The team focuses its practice on the defense of health care providers in the long-term care industry including Skilled Nursing Facilities, Assisted Living Facilities, Residential Care Facilities, Group Homes, Intermediate Care Facilities for the Developmentally Disabled and Home Health Agencies. Our mission is to continue providing exceptional client service through personal attention, education, and maintaining a presence in the community of Long-term Care groups and associations. As part of this mission, the Long-term Care Team will be posting blog entries to update clients and industry professionals on changes and important news regarding legal issues in the long term care industry.