RACs returned a record $100 million to providers in the third quarter, CMS announces
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 14, 2014
Medicare Recovery Audit Contractors returned $100.4 million in underpayments to healthcare providers in the third quarter of fiscal year 2014, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced.
Congressional lawmakers grill top ALJ on appeals backlog, say too many providers are being put out of...
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 11, 2014
Efforts to root out Medicare fraud have put far too many above-board providers in auditors’ crosshairs, leading to a staggering backlog of appeals that has no easy fix, Congressional lawmakers and...
The final countdown: Last day to enter the McKnight’s Tech Awards
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 11, 2014
Long-term care providers have until the stroke of midnight tonight to submit their entries to the McKnight’s Excellence in Technology Awards.
Reducing readmissions should be No. 1 priority for reducing healthcare costs, quality experts say
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 10, 2014
Reducing readmissions would have the most significant impact in bringing down U.S. healthcare costs, according to a survey of health quality experts.
Senators blast Medicare audits, say RAC payments should be changed
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 10, 2014
The Medicare claims review process is unfairly burdening healthcare providers and failing to improve program integrity, due in part to the payment system for certain auditors, Senate leaders said during...
Medicaid overbilling allegations were ‘inaccurate’ and ‘misleading,’ Signature...
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 09, 2014
Authorities have asserted that Signature HealthCARE billed Medicaid for $2 million in unapproved costs, but this was an oversimplification that presented the company in an unfair light, the large long-term...
Survey: Nurses are ‘dangerously’ stressed due to lack of authority, poor management
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 09, 2014
A lack of necessary authority and struggles with management are among multiple factors contributing to nurses’ high levels of stress, according to recently released survey results.
CMS updates manual to reflect F-Tag guidance dating back to 2003
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 08, 2014
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has revised the manual that long-term care facility surveyors refer to, updating interpretive guidelines related to F-Tags.
Skilled nursing facility readmissions should be an ACO quality measure, government proposes in payment...
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 08, 2014
Accountable care organizations should be assessed on the number of people who return to a member hospital within 30 days of being discharged to a skilled nursing facility, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid...
Four tips for relieving stress in long-term care
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 08, 2014
Stress is hurting the job performance of a huge number of people in this country — and long-term care workers are among those at greatest risk. At least, this was suggested by poll results released Monday....