LTC Commission is making headway on a three-part report, staff director says
By
Tim Mullaney
Aug 14, 2013
With about a month to go before voting on policy recommendations, the Congressional Commission on Long-Term Care has drafted the first chapters of its report, commission staff director Larry Atkins said...
Nursing home operators settle Omnicare kickback case for $5 million
By
Tim Mullaney
Aug 08, 2013
Two former nursing home executives have agreed to pay $5 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit involving long-term care pharmacy giant Omnicare Inc., according to the Chicago Tribune.
Obama: Eliminate Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, increase private capital
By
Tim Mullaney
Aug 08, 2013
President Obama recently endorsed bipartisan efforts to wind down Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two of the most important sources of mortgage financing for the senior living sector.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently finalized 2014 Medicare rate updates for hospices and inpatient rehabilitation facilities, and also laid out quality metrics. Hospices will receive...
Acute, post-acute bundled payments are ‘readily achievable,’ report finds
By
Tim Mullaney
Aug 06, 2013
Current patient classification systems could form the basis of a successful bundled payment program for acute and post-acute care, according to a recently published article in the Medicare & Medicaid Research...
Proposed legislation from the House of Representatives would decrease skilled nursing facilities’ Medicare rate updates, introduce new post-acute payment systems and institute readmissions penalties...
LTC commission meets for marathon hearing, receives public comments
By
Tim Mullaney
Aug 05, 2013
The Congressional Commission on Long-Term Care convened for its third hearing last week, focusing on how Medicare, Medicaid and long-term care insurance interact, and potential ways to strengthen these...
Federal watchdog agency joins chorus for observation stay reform, reports on scope of the problem
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 31, 2013
Observation status prevented hundreds of thousands of people from qualifying for Medicare coverage of skilled nursing services last year, showing the pressing need for reform, according to a government...
Post-acute care largely explains geographic differences in Medicare spending, report affirms
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 29, 2013
Geographic variances in post-acute care largely account for differences in Medicare spending patterns, supporting healthcare reform measures that encourage better acute and post-acute coordination, according...
‘Doc fix’ bill calls attention to need for therapy fix, NASL leader says
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 29, 2013
Provider groups are urging lawmakers to address outpatient therapy payments in addition to fixes to Medicare’s physician payment system, according to Cynthia Morton, executive vice president of the...