Pressure on senior care providers to improve efficiency may be misguided, say Medicare cost researchers
By
McKnight's Staff
May 30, 2013
Providers in areas with low average Medicare costs are not delivering care more efficiently than providers in high-cost areas, according to a new study. Prior studies said Medicare spending could be reduced...
States ready for Medicaid managed care expansion, but long-term care remains a worry, report says
By
McKnight's Staff
May 30, 2013
Stakeholders in Medicaid managed care programs feel prepared for the enrollment surge that will follow the full implementation of the Affordable Care Act, but there are ongoing concerns related to long-term...
Nursing home faces trailblazing lawsuit over asking workers for family medical histories
By
McKnight's Staff
May 29, 2013
A nursing and rehabilitation center violated federal law by asking for workers’ family medical history, a government lawsuit alleges. The suit is one of the first of its kind.
CMS: Four provider responsibilities when residents want an expedited appeal of Medicare service terminations
By
McKnight's Staff
May 29, 2013
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services specified four provider responsibilities for expedited review of Medicare service terminations in a recent claims manual update.
Comments on a public conference call led to whistleblower lawsuit against nursing home therapy provider
By
McKnight's Staff
May 28, 2013
Comments made during a therapy provider’s public conference call in 2006 aroused the suspicion of a listener, who went on to file a whistleblower lawsuit. This was disclosed in a recent court filing...
Senate takes up bill to improve Medicare audits, address RAC concerns
By
McKnight's Staff
May 28, 2013
A new Senate bill addresses provider concerns over the Medicare audit process, including the role of Recovery Audit Contractors. The House is also considering a version of the “Medicare Audit Improvement...
Promising Alzheimer’s drug fails in follow-up tests, researchers announce
By
McKnight's Staff
May 28, 2013
A “breakthrough” Alzheimer’s drug now looks much less promising after follow-up experiments failed to reproduce successful results, scientists recently announced. Non-standard use of...
Senate bill seeks to empower long-term care ombudsmen, strengthen eldercare workforce
By
McKnight's Staff
May 24, 2013
Senate lawmakers are seeking to strengthen and expand the long-term care ombudsman program and boost the eldercare workforce through a bill to reauthorize the Older Americans Act of 1965. The measure was...
CMS: Providers may need to reimburse beneficiaries due to inaccurate therapy denial codes
By
McKnight's Staff
May 24, 2013
Therapy providers should review therapy cap denials for 2013 and refund any beneficiary payments for these services, according to a Medicare newsletter released Thursday.
Court upholds $5.75 million verdict against former nursing home officers, board members
By
McKnight's Staff
May 24, 2013
A $5.75 million verdict will stand and there will be no new trial in the case against officers and board members of a former Pennsylvania nursing home, a federal judge recently ruled.