Lawmakers demand answers about rating system quirks
By
John O'Connor
Oct 01, 2014
After The New York Times noted that providers are apparently gaming the Five Star rating system by enhancing staffing and quality data, federal lawmakers quickly put an indignant pen to paper.
AHCA: Managed care transparency needed
By
Tim Mullaney
Oct 01, 2014
The government should collect and release more claims information from managed care plans, the nation’s largest long-term care provider association stated in a recent letter to Senate leaders.
Profile: Dedicated to excellence
By
Elizabeth Newman
Oct 01, 2014
Of Carol Scott’s many accomplishments, there is one that is a particular highlight: enabling nursing home residents on ventilators in her home state of Missouri to receive treatment.
Medicare Part B could have saved $110 million, OIG asserts
By
Elizabeth Newman
Sep 18, 2014
If the Medicare Part B program had used average Medicare Part D drug dispensing and fee rates, it would have saved the government $110 million in 2011, according to a report from the Department of Health...
House leader urges HHS to end settlements meant to cut Medicare backlog
By
Tim Mullaney
Sep 17, 2014
The Department of Health and Human Services may not have had the authority to offer providers special settlements to help clear a huge backlog of Medicare appeals, a leading Congressman said in a recent...
$1.3 million settlement marks second recent deal over SNF supervision of therapy providers
By
Tim Mullaney
Sep 16, 2014
A Maryland nursing home company has agreed to a $1.3 million settlement over charges that it did not prevent overbilling by its contracted therapy provider, federal authorities announced Monday. This is...
Assisted living communities continue to make a terrible first impression on prospective customers, university...
By
Tim Mullaney
Sep 15, 2014
Assisted living communities consistently do not make a good first impression with prospective customers, and they haven’t improved this skill set in the last decade, according to data from George...
CMS should publicly push Congress to reform therapy payment system, long-term care provider association...
By
Tim Mullaney
Sep 09, 2014
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should openly urge Congress to change the way therapy services are reimbursed, the nation’s largest long-term care provider association stated in recent...
Federal judge blocks new RAC contracts
By
Tim Mullaney
Sep 04, 2014
Adding to the ongoing controversy around Medicare’s Recovery Audit Contractor program, a judge has ruled that the government cannot award new RAC contracts until disputed payment terms are resolved.
Expenditures on nursing home, CCRC care projected to rise 69% over next decade
By
Tim Mullaney
Sep 04, 2014
Spending on nursing care and continuing care retirement communities is expected to roughly keep pace with total U.S. healthcare spending during the next decade, according to a government report released...