Blog
Read Daniel E. Straus’ blog to learn about healthcare, philanthropy, employee relations, and more.
CareOne CEO Daniel Straus Talks America’s Healthcare System with Congressman Josh Gottheimer
Posted on: May 10, 2017
CareOne hosted a conversation last evening at their assisted living community in Paramus with over 50 physicians affiliated with CareOne with Congressman Josh Gottheimer. The Congressman listened to opinions an feedback related to a wide range of topics centered on health care…most notably the recent passage of the American Health Care Act by the House.
Are Luxurious Amenities A Necessity For Skilled Nursing Facilities?
Posted on: April 21, 2015
In a recent article, the New York Times suggested that many nursing homes attempt to “lure” patients who require a short-term rehabilitation stay with the promise of luxurious amenities while offering subpar medical care in their relentless pursuit of Medicare dollars. Though this is somewhat of a generalization, as a leader in the senior care industry for more than 25 years, I have seen some competitors go down this unfortunate path.
New Medicare Payment Model Drives Better Patient Outcomes
Posted on: March 2, 2015
The Department of Health and Human Services (HMS) recently announced a decision to shift Medicare payments from service-based metrics to performance-based metrics, which means that in some cases, doctors will receive Medicare payments based on patient outcomes rather than the services they provide to patients.
Should MedPac Eliminate Hospital Observation Stays?
Posted on: February 21, 2015
Being admitted to a hospital doesn’t necessarily make you an inpatient. Often, patients are admitted under observation, which causes the following concerns:
Site-Neutral Reimbursement Levels The Playing Field For Skilled Nursing Facilities
Posted on: January 28, 2015
Nursing homes have changed dramatically over the past 33 years since the Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) system was developed to determine Medicare payments for health care services in hospital settings. Nursing homes have become much more than just long-term care facilities. They have evolved into the most cost effective venues for the delivery of 24/7 care in an institutional setting. Yet, Medicare reimburses Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (IRFs) 42% more than Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) for the same care provided to the same patients.
Why Build A New Nursing Home Company In An Unsteady Industry?
Posted on: December 19, 2014
Fifteen years ago, when CareOne and its many affiliated companies were founded, a large portion of the nursing home industry was operating under the protection laws of bankruptcy. It is entirely appropriate for you to wonder, based on these circumstances, why I would choose to begin building a new nursing home company. In fact, I had already built a successful nursing home company, Multicare, a New York Stock Exchange listed company with 175 nursing home facilities. Multicare was sold in 1997. At the time of the sale, the New York Times wrote that Multicare was a jewel in the nursing home business in the quality of care and the quality of management.
So why would I decide to go back into the nursing home business after I had already successfully exited the business and the buyer of my company, as well as many other competitors, were operating under bankruptcy?
Creating A Culture Of Caring
Posted on: October 22, 2014
The foundation of a health care company is built upon the notion of providing the highest quality of care for patients and their family members. Often, companies are so focused on this objective that they tend to lose sight of an equally important factor – the caregivers. The best way to demonstrate the services your company delivers to patients is to offer the same level of support to those who care for the patients – your employees.
At CareOne and HealthBridge Management, we have made a commitment to care for our own. By developing an internal philanthropy structure, we work together to help our employees in their time of need. When Superstorm Sandy struck, we launched a Disaster Relief Fund to assist affected employees with basic necessities and uninsured losses, and when employees were diagnosed with cancer, we created the CareOne Cancer Fund In Honor Of Dan Grimes, Inc. to provide financial assistance to them and their families. We care for our employees and our employees care for each other. As a result, we have created a culture of caring, an atmosphere that distinguishes our care from other companies.
Our charitable efforts also extend to the communities we live and operate in. Our fundraising efforts after the Boston Marathon bombing resulted in the single largest contribution to the One Fund supporting bombing victims; the Valentine’s Ball we hosted last February raised $1.1 million in support of The Valerie Fund and the thousands of New Jersey children with cancer and blood disorders for whom it provides care; our employees rallied during the recent ALS #IceBucketChallenge phenomenon and raised $15,000 for the ALS Association. As a result, CareOne was recognized as a finalist for NJ Monthly Magazine’s Great Oak Awards, honoring the state’s most generous companies.