Medicare payment reforms need to be based on more than geography, IOM says
By
McKnight's Staff
Jul 18, 2012
States should allow a broader scope of practice among healthcare providers to improve access to care, rather than have the federal government base Medicare payment adjustments around geographic locations,...
Nursing home residents informed about their exposure to hip fracture risk during trial
By
McKnight's Staff
Jul 23, 2012
Academic investigators at four locations are sending explanatory letters to over 1,300 nursing home residents who were placed in harm’s way during a study testing hip-protecting undergarments.
Care coordination efforts for seniors hinge on Supreme Court Affordable Care Act decision
By
McKnight's Staff
Apr 18, 2012
If the Supreme Court deems the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional, the jobs of hundreds of federal workers hired to implement policies that affect nursing homes will be at stake, new reports suggest.
Lawmakers call for public disclosure of Medicare payments, ask for input on post-acute reforms
By
McKnight's Staff
Jun 20, 2013
The battle against Medicare waste, fraud and abuse heated up on Capitol Hill this week. Lawmakers introduced a bill to make Medicare claims and payments publicly available and asked for provider input...
Former CMS boss says reforms underway, regardless of how Supreme Court rules
By
McKnight's Staff
Jun 26, 2012
Even if the Supreme Court repeals the Affordable Care Act, its early reforms have already delivered promising benefits, according to former Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Donald...
Experts tout private and public long-term care funding reforms in Senate hearing
By
McKnight's Staff
Apr 19, 2012
As the trajectory of long-term care costs rises, experts on funding gave varying approaches on how to achieve savings at a Senate hearing.
Study: Alzheimer’s drugs should be more widely used
By
McKnight's Staff
Mar 09, 2012
Alzheimer’s medications typically used only in early stages of the disease can be more useful in later, more severe stages of dementia than previously thought, a new study suggests.
New Medicare payment reforms might not keep costs from rising, study says
By
McKnight's Staff
Sep 11, 2012
Between 2001 and 2010, spending on Medicare beneficiaries needing post-acute services has jumped from $26.6 billion to $58 billion.
Medicare service providers cannot object to a Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor’s (RAC) decision to re-open a payment decision, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday.
Providers should prepare to face even more audits under healthcare reform, expert warns
By
McKnight's Staff
Sep 27, 2012
Providers need to have the appropriate staff and data analytics programs in place to defend against the onslaught of more Medicare and Medicaid claims audits, an expert urged.