Study: Medicaid underfunds nursing homes by $4.2 billion, providers call for pay hike
Oct 23, 2008
Medicaid is underfunding state long-term care efforts by $4.2 billion this year, according to a new analysis of Medicaid financing released Wednesday by the American Health Care Association.
Study: Medicare pay-for-performance penalizes hospitals that treat more elderly patients
Oct 22, 2008
Hospitals that serve large groups of the elderly, poor, African-American or female patients tend to be ranked lower than hospitals with healthier, younger clientele under the Medicare pay-for-performance...
Medicaid reform pilot to enhance choices confuses beneficiaries
Oct 17, 2008
A Florida pilot program designed to give Medicare beneficiaries more choice and control concerning their healthcare plans has led to more confusion than anything else, according to a recent review by the...
Report: Medicaid long-term care spending to skyrocket over next 20 years
Oct 02, 2008
Many consumers are ill-informed about Medicare and Medicaid’s role in long-term care, and greater planning could help reduce the danger of soaring Medicaid costs, according to a new report from America’s...
AHCA urges inclusion of FMAP increase in possible stimulus package
Sep 23, 2008
The American Health Care Association Monday called upon members of Congress to include a temporary increase to states’ Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP) in any stimulus package that may...
New CMS guide serves as road map for Medicare coverage, coding
Sep 02, 2008
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services hopes that a new online guide for Medicare beneficiaries and healthcare providers will be a “one-stop shop” for information on coverage, coding...
Federal agencies at odds: Medicare payment error rate much higher than first reported
Aug 27, 2008
The Office of the Inspector General has issued a report claiming that the Medicare payment error rate for durable medical equipment in 2006 was significantly higher than the 7.5% rate claimed by the Centers...
Prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease sparks health reform recommendations
Aug 25, 2008
The U.S. healthcare delivery system may not be equipped to handle the expected growth in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new report by Avalere Health.
States fail to report troubled Medicaid providers to OIG, report finds
Aug 14, 2008
States are not reporting those Medicaid providers that have been suspended or excluded from their state programs, according to a new report from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector...
Fall-prevention awareness can cut ER visits, save money, state finds
Aug 12, 2008
Fall-prevention education can help reduce the number of emergency-department visits and healthcare costs in Connecticut, a state-funded report found.