Fix flaws before changing nursing home pay: AHCA says
By
James M. Berklan
Aug 01, 2013
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should consider a higher market basket update for nursing homes due to improper calculations that could be costing providers, the American Health Care Association...
Proposal would bring unity to LTC state ombudsmen
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 01, 2013
States have run their respective long-term care ombudsman programs in differing ways for nearly 20 years, but that would change if a new proposal advances.
Case for bundled pay made
By
James M. Berklan
Jun 01, 2013
Large-scale bundling of government reimbursements is needed, say researchers who have studied the topic. Post-acute care was the fastest growing major healthcare spending category for government programs...
CMS widens audits, hones in on Part A claims, expert says
By
James M. Berklan
Jun 01, 2013
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has increased its scrutiny of Medicare Part A filings recently and as a result, has reclaimed more funds than ever from providers, a long-term care compliance...
CMS eases doc delegation
By
James M. Berklan
May 01, 2013
Skilled nursing operators now have greater flexibility in allowing non-physicians to do certain tasks. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services clarified what may be delegated in an April 3 brief.
Feds offer more support for workers’ background checks
By
James M. Berklan
Apr 01, 2013
A federal agency is again offering to put its money where its mouth is when it comes to employee background checks for long-term care providers. All direct-care employees could potentially be affected.
Medicare has two more years to reclaim any overpayments
By
James M. Berklan
Feb 01, 2013
Providers will have to hold their breath a little longer after receiving Medicare payments, thanks to a little-publicized provision of recently signed fiscal cliff legislation.
CMS wants burdens eased
By
James M. Berklan
Feb 01, 2013
Providers will have their say about the future of Medicare Administrative Contractors.
Ask the payment expert … about inaccurate MDS therapy information
By
Patricia Boyer
Feb 01, 2013
What happens if my therapy company makes an error on the MDS and as a result, a change of therapy was missed? Are we still responsible?
Feds limit Medicaid picks
By
James M. Berklan
Jan 02, 2013
While the administration has been flexible about numerous aspects of Medicaid expansion called for in the healthcare reform law, there is at least one thing that is not negotiable: States will not get...