SNF cuts could be averted under latest ‘doc fix’ proposal
By
John Hall
Mar 12, 2015
Nursing home leaders and operators are crossing their fingers that a new proposal will give them a four- to six-month reprieve from having to possibly finance a plan via reimbursement reductions to avert...
Medicare auditors exaggerating predictions of insolvency, providers say
By
John Hall
Mar 12, 2015
Recovery audit contractors continue to bemoan an audit moratorium and are now saying it is contributing to dire predictions about Medicare program solvency. A RAC group says that General Accountability...
Owner of two nursing agencies charged with $5 million Medicare fraud
By
John Hall
Mar 12, 2015
The owner of two Illinois nursing agencies was arrested Tuesday on charges he allegedly defrauded Medicare out of more than $5 million for unnecessary home care services over a 44-month period. The arrest...
OIG says critical access swing beds should be paid at SNF rates
By
John Hall
Mar 11, 2015
New legislation should be introduced to significantly change the way rural-based hospitals are reimbursed for care provided in post-acute care swing beds, the Department of Health and Human Services’...
New EHR bills would improve interoperability
By
John Hall
Mar 11, 2015
On the heels of a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services pledge to ease electronic health record implementation reporting rules several weeks ago, newly introduced legislation would facilitate greater...
House and Senate lawmakers on Tuesday double-teamed Congress with companion bills aimed at mitigating hospital readmission penalties — a positive move for nursing homes because it would ease the invariable...
2014 senior housing prices hit record highs
By
John Hall
Mar 10, 2015
Average per-unit prices in the assisted living market soared 25% in 2014 in the midst of a record-setting favorable combination of vigorous investment activity, abundant capital and low interest rates,...
Another state considers terminally ill access to experimental drugs
By
John Hall
Mar 10, 2015
Despite opposition from some drug makers and provider groups, Illinois lawmakers are considering several bills that would allow terminal patients to try unapproved experimental drugs to extend their lives.
After 14 years, SNF construction ban officially lifted
By
John Hall
Mar 10, 2015
In anticipation of a swelling elderly population and the possible boost to the state’s economy, Florida has ended a 14-year moratorium and approved permits to build 22 new skilled nursing facilities...
SNF victory in federal appeals court expected to cause review of other deficiency cases
By
John Hall
Mar 09, 2015
A federal appeals court has upheld fines emanating from a pair of deficiencies found and affirmed at a California nursing home. But the provider and its legal counsel are thrilled because the court also...