Improper coding for doctors’ evaluation and management visits costs Medicare billions, OIG report
By
John Hall
May 30, 2014
Documentation coding errors related to routine patient evaluation and management (E/M) visits are costing the Medicare program billions of dollars in improper payments a year — nearly $7 billion alone...
How to do it… Design for infection control
By
John Hall
Jan 06, 2017
During remodeling or in between, providers must be continuously mindful of keeping environments clean. “Designers, housekeeping staff and maintenance professionals need to take every opportunity...
OIG report prods federal regulators to get tougher
By
John Hall
May 22, 2015
A Congressional watchdog group this week criticized the Department of Health & Human Services for failing to keep its improper payment rates low in its Medicare fee-for-service and Medicaid programs.
Healthcare now the biggest cyber-attack target, report reveals
By
John Hall
May 11, 2015
The leading causes for breaches and attacks on healthcare organizations Ponemon identified are (in order of severity): theft, employee negligence and malware. The biggest vulnerability for each of the...
After 14 years, SNF construction ban officially lifted
By
John Hall
Mar 10, 2015
In anticipation of a swelling elderly population and the possible boost to the state’s economy, Florida has ended a 14-year moratorium and approved permits to build 22 new skilled nursing facilities...
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.
20% of Medicare patients harmed due to improper care; nursing homes among areas needing more attention,...
By
John Hall
May 29, 2014
Nearly one in five Medicare patients fall prey to medically related injuries unrelated to their underlying disease or condition, according to new research.
New report highlights need for Alzheimer’s research
By
John Hall
Feb 09, 2015
A new report has compelled one of the leading advocates for Alzheimer’s research in the U.S. Senate to renew a call on the federal government to significantly boost research funding for the disease,...
Nursing home staffing standards reduced severe deficiency citations, researchers find
By
John Hall
May 30, 2014
New research supports that improved nursing home staffing levels correlate with better quality of care. But it points to a phenomenon fewer could have predicted: diminished registered nurse hours spent...
Lawmakers recommend $10M advisory panel to improve health data interoperability
By
John Hall
May 15, 2015
Lawmakers have proposed changes that would significantly alter the way sensitive health data is prepared, managed and exchanged.