CMS: Nurse shortage means hospices can keep using contracted workers
By
Tim Mullaney
Oct 08, 2014
Hospices can continue to rely on contract nurses because an ongoing nurse shortage is preventing providers from meeting their staffing needs, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced in a...
Long-term care pharmacy groups propose changes to make short-cycle dispensing more efficient, cost-effective
By
McKnight's Staff
Feb 05, 2013
Long-term care pharmacies are struggling with an Affordable Care Act provision related to short-cycle dispensing of brand name oral solid drugs, according to a recent letter from the Long Term Care Pharmacy...
CMS releases county COVID data for staff testing requirements
By
Danielle Brown
Sep 08, 2020
Providers can now check how often they’ll be required to test staff members for COVID-19 after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released county coronavirus data last week.
Civil Money Penalty funds don’t have to go directly to nursing homes, CMS notes
Jun 26, 2009
A recently released memo from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services clarifies that Civil Money Penalty (CMP) funds are not just for nursing homes.
Time to allow visits: Vaccine success supports reopening in long-term care, advocates say
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 26, 2021
State and federal officials are being urged to ease visitation restrictions as COVID-19 vaccinations continue and cases fall among residents.
New CMS guidance allows focused COVID testing during outbreak investigations
By
Danielle Brown
Sep 13, 2021
Updated guidance released Friday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services gives nursing homes more options for conducting a COVID-19 outbreak investigation after a positive test occurs.
2.2% Medicare raise slated for nursing homes
By
Danielle Brown
Aug 03, 2020
Nursing home operators will receive an aggregate $750 million Medicare pay increase for fiscal year 2021 under a final rule announced Friday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. It would amount...
CMS issues guidance on incomplete, unsubmitted MDS discharge assessments
By
Tim Mullaney
Aug 27, 2013
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has clarified steps providers must take to comply with Minimum Data Set requirements regarding incomplete or unsubmitted discharge assessments.
Medicare should pay for skilled nursing services without a qualifying hospital stay, experts tell Senators
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 31, 2014
The time has come to eliminate hospital stay requirements for beneficiaries to qualify for Medicare coverage of skilled nursing services, experts told a Senate committee Wednesday.
CMS implements new law on hospice, home health
Apr 04, 2011
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has begun implementing a new law that requires physicians to meet face-to-face with individuals looking to be certified for Medicare home health services and...