OIG investigation raises conflict of interest concerns in ZPIC program
By
McKnight's Staff
Jul 11, 2012
Regulators need to be more aggressive in identifying conflicts of interest among Medicare’s fraud-fighting Zone Program Integrity Contractors (ZPICs), a new government report recommends.
HHS issues final rule on federal payment rates for new Medicaid beneficiaries
By
McKnight's Staff
Apr 01, 2013
The federal government will pay 100% of the Medicaid costs for certain newly eligible beneficiaries under the Affordable Care Act, the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed in a final rule...
Medicare safe from ACA-mandated cuts, official says
By
McKnight's Staff
May 02, 2013
Potential Medicare cuts called for by the Affordable Care Act will not occur, a chief government actuary has announced. Long-term care organizations said the news comes as a relief for providers who have...
Antipsychotic reduction goal attainable, medical expert says
By
McKnight's Staff
Oct 29, 2012
Providers still have two months left to achieve a reduction of 15% in off-label use of antipsychotics, a goal that is achievable, a top medical expert says.
Elder abuse bill pushed
By
McKnight's Staff
May 01, 2012
Lawmakers in Colorado are trying to change the fact that their state is one of only four that do not have mandatory reporting laws governing elder abuse. State Sen. Evie Hudak (D) introduced legislation...
Nursing homes can achieve high quality while gaining cost efficiency, researchers find
By
McKnight's Staff
Mar 25, 2013
Nursing homes in the United States are generally efficient and able to control expenses without sacrificing quality of care, according to a recently released study in the Healthcare Management Review.
CMS crackdown doubles Medicare removals
By
McKnight's Staff
Jun 07, 2013
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has removed 14,663 healthcare providers and suppliers from the Medicare program in the last two years, the agency announced Thursday. The figure more than doubles...
Reports forecast Medicare funding boost, dim overall outlook
By
McKnight's Staff
Apr 23, 2012
The Affordable Care Act will help Medicare save over $200 billion through 2016, according to government actuaries. But questions as to Medicare’s long-term solvency remain, another report from Social...
Kindred teams with Omnicare, splits with skilled nursing pharmacy PharMerica
By
McKnight's Staff
Jun 24, 2013
Major long-term care provider Kindred Healthcare will split with its current pharmacy partner, PharMerica, and team with the sector’s largest pharmacy, Omnicare, at the end of 2013, according to...
Provider advocates strike hopeful note as LTC Commission meets for the first time
By
McKnight's Staff
Jun 28, 2013
With mere months to make progress on the deep issues facing the long-term care industry, the Congressional Long-Term Care Commission held its first official meeting Thursday. LTC stakeholders issued statements...