The emerging literature on “nonpharmacological interventions” has not succeeded in providing long-term solutions for many people, such that expressions of need continue to recur on a regular...
Medicare should pay for skilled nursing services without a qualifying hospital stay, experts tell Senators
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 31, 2014
The time has come to eliminate hospital stay requirements for beneficiaries to qualify for Medicare coverage of skilled nursing services, experts told a Senate committee Wednesday.
Long-term care facilities refusing free CMS resource on dementia, nurses association says
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 17, 2014
Some nursing homes are not accepting a dementia training resource sent by the government, even though it is free and recommended, according to the American Association for Long-Term Care Nursing.
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...
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...
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...
CMS announces Medicare appeals without administrative law judge hearings
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 07, 2014
Long-term care providers will be able to appeal certain Medicare claims decisions without going through an administrative law judge hearing, the Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA) announced...
AMA to submit information to federal regulators regarding end-of-life care planning
By
John Hall
Jun 03, 2014
The American Medical Association is expected to release recommendations soon for what physicians should be reimbursed for end-of-life medical consultations. The physicians group issues advisements regularly...
Plan of correction can be anything but, as this provider learns the hard way
By
John O'Connor
Apr 28, 2014
Justice has an odd way of showing itself if you’re a nursing facility that disagrees with a deficiency citation but decides to work with inspectors to clear your name. You’re not going to believe...