CMS needs to improve oversight of Medicare contractors’ error rate reduction plans, report says
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 21, 2014
Too many Medicare providers are receiving improper payments, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should clamp down by doing a better job overseeing its contractors’ error rate reduction...
What is therapy? It’s not as simple as it might seem
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Aug 13, 2013
“What is therapy?” sounds like a simple question, but it requires a separate and very complex answer for each discipline.
Progress in trying to undo the hospital ‘observation stay’ mess
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 31, 2013
What is this world coming to? When you complain about bizarre government conditions or regulations, you usually have to assume you’re just whispering into the wind.
Ask the payment expert … about quality and reimbursement correlations
By
Patricia Boyer
Jun 01, 2013
How can the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services correlate quality of care and reimbursement?
You always need to remember that Medicare is an insurance plan. As such, Medicare has rules, just like...
Government officials face increased pressure over troubled dual-eligible initiative
By
McKnight's Staff
May 31, 2013
A long-criticized project to improve the healthcare delivery and payment system for people eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid has again been under fire in recent days, prompting government officials...
Nursing homes expected to miss 15% antipsychotic reduction goal, but officials focus on progress
By
Elizabeth Newman
Mar 20, 2013
Skilled nursing facilities are making progress in reducing the off-label use of antipsychotics but are expected to fall far short of an overall 15% reduction goal.
CMS nudges beneficiaries away from low-performing MA plans
By
McKnight's Staff
Nov 07, 2012
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is encouraging around 375,00 Medicare Advantage members to re-evaluate their plans.
The importance of a smoking policy
By
Betty Norman
Oct 25, 2012
Resident smoking polices mean much more than cleaner air at long-term care facilities. As recent incidents demonstrate, having effective policies for residents – and making sure they are followed...
Breaches of basic infection control practices — why?
By
Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC
Jul 30, 2012
Basic infection prevention and control isn’t rocket science. It is essentially following some general guidelines. Some of them pretty simplistic. Not too hard right? You would think, but …
Antipsychotics report will have severe side effects
By
John O'Connor
Jul 13, 2012
Antipsychotic drugs are often used to calm residents with dementia. This reality is common knowledge among most people who have spent more than a few minutes in a nursing facility. But it is apparently...