After following through on a threat to hold the nomination of Michelle Leonhart to lead the Drug Enforcement Agency due to her inability or unwillingness to address an issue dear to nursing home operators,...
Hearings put mandate designers on hotseat
By
James M. Berklan
Apr 12, 2024
Federal lawmakers grilled Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra two weeks in a row at hearings in March over regulators’ plans to impose a nurse staffing minimum on nursing homes.
No forgiveness for MDS errors?
By
James M. Berklan
Nov 01, 2011
Providers who aren’t completely up to speed in understanding new MDS 3.0 requirements could be in for a very rude awakening, according to a well-known expert on payment and assessment systems.
CMS proposal will target IT, staff competency protocols
By
Aug 05, 2015
Information technology and staff training are two key topics included in the proposed regulatory overhaul announced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services as part of the White House Conference...
Feds ease auditing reviews, anti-fraud efforts to surge
By
John O'Connor
Dec 01, 2013
Providers likely will embrace House legislation that eases billing reviews for operators deemed a low fraud risk.
A GOP repeal of Obamacare may reprise fee-for-service
By
Elizabeth Newman
Dec 06, 2016
With the White House, Senate and House of Representatives all in Republican control, long-term care providers should expect significant changes, experts said in November.
AHCA: Don’t scapegoat LTC in name of fiscal obligation
By
John O'Connor
May 02, 2011
As Democrats and Republicans squared off over conflicting budget priorities, the long-term care industry delivered a message both sides probably didn’t want to hear: Don’t score political points...
Quality measurements are a ‘game changer,’ expert notes
By
Elizabeth Newman
Sep 05, 2016
Skilled nursing facilities failing to submit data for new quality measures will suffer a 2-percentage point reduction starting with 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services warned in the recent...
Providers catch big break as MDS 3.0 gets one-year delay
By
James M. Berklan
Apr 01, 2009
Nursing homes have an extra year to prepare for MDS 3.0 after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services disclosed it would delay implementing the program overhaul until October 2010.
Reader Poll: How do you create time for yourself?
Jul 06, 2017
“Instead of taking one big vacation each year, I enjoy getting away for several long weekends — whether it’s to a local destination or somewhere more exotic, like Puerto Rico. I also make...