CMS will pay more to labs that process COVID-19 tests quicker starting Jan. 1
By
Danielle Brown
Oct 16, 2020
Laboratories that process coronavirus diagnostic tests within two calendar days will receive a higher Medicare reimbursement than those that take longer, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced...
Senior care groups want nursing home funding protected in Obama’s first budget
Feb 23, 2009
President Barack Obama is set to unveil his 2010 budget proposal Thursday, causing anxious senior care groups to issue a call for Medicare funding protection.
CMS, OIG agree on increasing scrutiny of psychotropic drug use
By
Joe Bush
Nov 18, 2022
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will be increasing its oversight of the use of psychotropic drugs to pay closer attention to certain classes, warned the lead author of a federal report identifying...
The top long-term care news stories of 2021
By
Danielle Brown
Dec 26, 2021
Here’s a rundown of the top stories that McKnight’s Long-Term Care News readers opened over the past 12 months.
CMS stresses it wants more stakeholder views on nursing homes staffing shortages
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 27, 2022
The leader of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Tuesday challenged providers to give more insight on the workforce crises they are dealing with as the agency prepares to set minimum staffing...
Nursing homes lukewarm to government’s new five-star rating system
Jun 19, 2008
Nursing home operators wasted little time Wednesday issuing rebuttals to the federal government’s announcement that it would create and publish individual facility rankings on its Web site by the...
CMS seeks to ease COVID staff testing burden on rural operators
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 01, 2020
Some nursing homes have been required to conduct staff testing at a higher frequency than necessary, the agency said in explaining recent changes to its testing methodology.
CMS details 5 new scenarios that trigger infection control-focused surveys
By
Danielle Brown
Jan 06, 2021
Multiple weeks with new coronavirus cases or low staffing are among the additional scenarios that will trigger a focused infection control survey at a nursing home, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid...
COVID-19 costs should be baked into the SNF PPS payment structure for ‘foreseeable future,’ AHCA...
By
Danielle Brown
Jun 11, 2020
The federal government should integrate increased costs associated with COVID-19 care in the SNF PPS payment structure for the “foreseeable future” to ensure adequate reimbursement, according to the...
CMS survey: Many beneficiaries with chronic pain delaying care
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 22, 2023
A large subset of senior Medicare beneficiaries with debilitating chronic pain have trouble accessing care, or are delaying care, according to CMS survey results released Wednesday.