Baby boomers struggle more with weight, exercise less than other generations, survey finds
Jul 22, 2011
Baby boomers are struggling with obesity more than other generations, with two-thirds being either overweight or obese, a new survey suggests. That’s bad news for Medicare costs, and those who have...
More Medicare recipients are surviving high-risk surgeries
Jun 17, 2011
The risk of death after high-risk surgeries is dropping among Medicare patients, a new study found.
Providers grapple with CMS ‘rule’
By
James M. Berklan
May 03, 2011
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has a lot of long-term care providers shaking their heads. They’re not sure they heard one of CMS’s latest proposed rules right.
On the road to rationed healthcare
By
C.E. Nash
Apr 14, 2011
The Obama administration has determined that we will be able to supply healthcare to several million additional people without increasing the cost of doing so, and with no plan in place to increase the...
GOP targets Medicaid, CLASS Act
Apr 01, 2011
House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) says the Republican version of the fiscal 2012 budget—which will be released next month—will call for $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid funding over 10...
Feds: ACO regulations will tie quality to savings
Apr 01, 2011
Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services released long awaited proposed accountable care regulations yesterday, estimating it could save Medicare millions over the next...
Pssssst! Have we got a deal for you!
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 10, 2011
We might have just been subjected to the biggest dose of chutzpah seen in a long, long while. It smacked of the old image of the leering used-car salesman (sorry, used car sales people) rubbing his thumb...
… while Medicare cuts threaten hospices’ profit margins
Mar 08, 2011
Medicare profit margins for hospice providers could dip into negative territory thanks to two new cuts to Medicare reimbursements, according to a new survey.
Should ‘auld acquaintance be forgot?’ A thought for nursing homes in the new year
By
Anthony Cirillo
Jan 11, 2011
Nursing homes are at their core residential communities for the elderly.
Open up and say ‘Aha’
By
James M. Berklan
Dec 01, 2010
OK, raise your hand if you were surprised to learn that physicians averted a major Medicare pay cut that was supposed to take place this week. Didn’t think so. I wasn’t either.