New drug delivery system shows promise in managing Parkinson’s
By
John Hall
Apr 23, 2015
Medical researchers say a new treatment could effectively combat the biggest obstacle in managing Parkinson’s Disease – the difficulty in absorbing medications because of erratic muscles that...
Information security improves at Medicare contractors: OIG
By
John Hall
Apr 22, 2015
Information security at nine selected Medicare administrative contractors, at least as of two years ago, was improving, according to a recent report by the Department of Health & Human Services Office...
Peppers cooked in hooch lead to facility fire, evacuation
By
John Hall
Apr 21, 2015
There’s a lot that’s unclear in an attempt to cook peppers in Everclear in an assisted living residence last week.
Social Security numbers to be removed from Medicare beneficiary cards
By
John Hall
Apr 21, 2015
After more than 10 years of warnings by government investigators, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services now has a mandate to remove Social Security numbers from enrollees’ cards — a practice...
Budget cut-hungry GOP walks fine line, eyeing 2016 elections
By
John Hall
Apr 21, 2015
House and Senate Republican lawmakers began working on a budget this week that could propose slashing Medicare and Medicaid in an effort to work toward a balanced budget without fiddling with tax rates,...
Providers testify against post-acute bundled pay bill at hearing
By
John Hall
Apr 17, 2015
A top nursing home advocate on Thursday urged killing a bill calling for the bundling of Medicare payments for post-acute care services.
Watchdog: CMS should monitor Recovery Audit Data warehouse
By
John Hall
Apr 17, 2015
A new Government Accountability Office report recommends sweeping government reforms that would mitigate fragmentation and duplication of a number of Medicare and Medicaid programs.
Colorado latest state to bungle Medicaid claims data: OIG
By
John Hall
Apr 16, 2015
Long-term care providers are struggling to satisfy new mandates over electronic reporting and medical records, and can expect more in the near future. But nothing can compare to the kind of information...
CMS posts specifics on staffing, payroll data collection for Five Star ratings
By
John Hall
Apr 15, 2015
The government has posted technical specifications showing long-term care facilities how to electronically submit staffing information based on payroll data under a new system that becomes mandatory in...
Nursing home operators urge swift Senate approval of physician pay formula
By
John Hall
Apr 14, 2015
The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living are urging the U.S. Senate to act quickly on a potentially historic bill for establishing Medicare rates for doctors.