CMS surprises with therapy pay levels in 2022 Medicare physician fee rule
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 14, 2021
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services pleasantly surprised long-term care therapy providers with several parts of the new 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule that it released Tuesday.
Clinical briefs for Thursday, July 8
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 08, 2021
New CMS Medicare chief was health system exec, former HHS health reform director … More falls may occur in SNFs after admitting residents with existing cognitive decline: study … New health benefits...
Pressure mounting on CMS to exclude COVID vaccination data in quality reporting
By
Danielle Brown
Jun 18, 2021
More long-term care stakeholders are calling on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to ditch its proposal to expand the Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program to include staff COVID-19...
Risk-bearing execs: Operators need to ‘make some noise’ to make some money
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jun 10, 2021
Skilled nursing providers looking to take on risk for long-term viability need to start getting creative, warn two executives in the business of connecting payers and providers in value-based partnerships.
The coming crackdown: COVID-19 and beyond
By
Karen Christian
Matthew Hittle
Apr 21, 2021
For more than a year, America’s nursing homes have been besieged by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has tragically claimed the lives of more than 130,000 residents and 1,600 staff. While America’s nursing...
Is the doctor in? Improve nursing homes with one easy stroke
By
Kenneth Lehmann
Apr 14, 2021
Many nursing home COVID-19 patients would have benefitted from daily, reimbursed-for physician visits in their skilled nursing facilities, but they were not entitled to them. With an epic crisis...
NYT: You are as much of the problem as the Five-Star system
By
Steven Littlehale
Apr 02, 2021
A recent New York Times article about nursing homes is shameful, lazy journalism. Coupled with the need to sell advertising space, it purposefully perpetuates misunderstandings about nursing homes, caregivers...
Nursing home penalties may rise in wake of AARP lawsuit alleging ‘weak’ CMS enforcement, endangered...
By
Danielle Brown
Jan 20, 2021
Nursing home operators should be on high alert for potential rule changes regarding civil monetary penalties after a lawsuit was filed against federal health agencies Sunday that targets a 2017 rule that...
CNA staffing, turnover will be a top focus, federal official vows
By
Danielle Brown
Oct 21, 2020
Turnover among certified nursing assistants at long-term care facilities will be a top priority for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services going forward, a top agency official pledged Tuesday.
Parkinson, former CMS chief agree: ‘Nightmare’ COVID-19 a chance for providers to learn, improve
By
James M. Berklan
Oct 07, 2020
COVID-19 has been a “clinical nightmare and a business disaster” but also can be an outstanding learning opportunity, leaders said Tuesday.