If misery loves company, take comfort in knowing many of your long-term care colleagues are doing the same thing this week.
CMS and providers have reason to celebrate
By
Elizabeth Newman
Sep 16, 2016
I encourage providers to pause and pat themselves on the back. That’s because 30-day hospital readmission rates have dropped in all states except one over the past five years.
CMS sneaks a trick in with its treats
By
Steven Littlehale
Oct 21, 2015
With so many regulatory changes kicking in on Oct. 1, it’s no wonder providers were likely too distracted to notice the latest “trick” by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
CMS lowers pay hike for skilled nursing facilities to 1.2%
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 31, 2015
Medicare skilled nursing facilities would get a net 1.2% pay increase — totaling $430 million — in fiscal 2016 under a final rule issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services late Thursday.
Defeat the plague of improper claims
By
Kristin Walter
Apr 17, 2015
For recovery auditing professionals everywhere, performance-based payments are a financial best practice and the industry standard. The client wins when no upfront expenses occur and payments are made...
Where were YOU when CMS changed the Five-Star rating system?
By
Steven Littlehale
Mar 20, 2015
Some things will always stay etched in our mind. Where were you on February 12, when CMS publicly announced immediate changes to the Five Star Quality Rating System for Nursing Homes?
Officials: More additions and rebasings of nursing home ratings to come
By
James M. Berklan
Feb 23, 2015
Nearly one-third of the nation’s skilled nursing facilities lost a rating star due purely to administrative changes Friday, when regulators also emphasized that more quality measures will be added...
RAC groups battle provider plea for short-stay payment relief
By
John Hall
Feb 19, 2015
Third-party firms that audit Medicare bills for payment issues are pushing back hard against a hospital association plea for more favorable short-stay reimbursements, adding to the ongoing unwelcome specter...
Changes to Five Star expected, providers fear lower ratings
By
Elizabeth Newman
Feb 12, 2015
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is expected to unveil major changes to Nursing Home Compare today that could cause facilities to lose rating stars, according to industry sources.
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...