The government has put the RAC program on a shelf, while they determine how to deal with confusion among providers regarding billing short inpatient hospital stays. It’s time now to get the RAC program...
California medical association strongly supports the president’s nursing home plan
By
Michael Wasserman
Mar 28, 2022
The California Association of Long Term Care Medicine (CALTCM) applauds President Biden’s ambitious plan to improve the care of our nursing home residents. CALTCM is the medical voice of long-term...
New payment models present opportunities for SNFs
By
Jeff Terkowitz
Jun 18, 2014
For skilled nursing facilities, the Medicare SNF 3-day rule can make it difficult to place the right patients in the right setting at the right time. The 3-day rule requires that a Medicare beneficiary...
Which matters most: Social media or Five-Star?
By
Steven Littlehale
May 27, 2022
Recently my colleague Ken Kelley, MS, OTR/L, RAC-CT, a clinical consultant/reimbursement specialist, posited something about Five-Star ratings that I hadn’t considered. He suggested that, in general,...
The physiatrist’s role in post-acute rehabilitation
By
Steve M. Gnatz, M.D.
Dec 09, 2015
In the IRF environment, it is mandated by federal regulation that the rehabilitation physician performs several key functions. It is not specified that this doctor necessarily be a physiatrist, but only...
Focus on life safety during the management of COVID-19
By
Stan Szpytek
Mar 24, 2020
Note: This story was updated on May 12 to reflect new regulatory changes. As skilled nursing facilities around the nation rise to the challenges of managing this current infectious disease outbreak, providers...
The future of restorative
By
Jean Wendland Porter
Jun 11, 2019
For those who are considering how to manage therapy in four months when they’re no longer using therapy as the primary revenue-producer, how about utilizing the therapy staff more for training restorative?
Against Medical Advice (AMA) discharges: A multipronged approach
By
Rebekah Bray
Apr 14, 2020
“I don’t care … I’m leaving here!” “I didn’t want to come to rehab to start with.” “The hospital/doctor told me I had to come here on my insurance company wouldn’t pay for my hospital...
Questions to ponder as herd immunity remains out of reach
By
Steven Fuller, Ph.D., DO
Feb 08, 2021
Experts estimate that herd immunity for COVID-19 will be reached when 75–85% of the U.S. population has received the COVID-19 vaccine. But long-term care — including nursing homes and assisted...
Breaking down the therapy changes
By
Jean Wendland Porter
Nov 08, 2021
Proposed rules almost always become final rules. On November 2, 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (after threatening for four years) finalized the 15% payment reduction for outpatient...