When numbers are drawn out by healthcare auditors and red flags wave
By
Elizabeth Newman
Feb 20, 2014
The takeaway in a story last week about extrapolation and Medicare overpayments is, natch, how meticulous providers should be when filing claims — and to understand how individual claim problems can...
Providers grapple with CMS ‘rule’
By
James M. Berklan
May 03, 2011
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has a lot of long-term care providers shaking their heads. They’re not sure they heard one of CMS’s latest proposed rules right.
Triple threat: One day’s reports fuel chest-thumping, angst
By
James M. Berklan
Apr 25, 2012
Monday was a remarkable day, even by Washington spinmeister standards. In fact, we here at McKnight’s had to look two times — nay, three — to make sure we had seen correctly.
Voters give providers something to worry about
By
John O'Connor
Jun 08, 2012
GOP and Democratic strategists were watching the Wisconsin governorship recall race earlier this week as a possible harbinger of this fall’s presidential election. But that’s a shortsighted...
Hospitals’ plea will soon be nursing homes’
By
James M. Berklan
Sep 23, 2015
I was truly surprised when I didn’t hear long-term care leaders excitedly jumping around, yelling, “See! See! Us too! Us too!” last week. It was a simple report, sure, but one that should...
Open up and say ‘Aha’
By
James M. Berklan
Dec 01, 2010
OK, raise your hand if you were surprised to learn that physicians averted a major Medicare pay cut that was supposed to take place this week. Didn’t think so. I wasn’t either.
Your Medicare future: Bigger pie, smaller slice
By
John O'Connor
Nov 12, 2018
I have seen the future of Medicare. Here’s what you can expect: Demand will grow the program; fiscal realities will shrink your share.
Why the likely demise of LTC insurance isn’t all bad
By
John O'Connor
Jun 22, 2012
Two decades ago, private long-term care insurance was seen as a can’t-miss option for funding future nursing home costs. But like many of the people who purchased policies back then, the product...
There’s no place like the county nursing home
By
Elizabeth Newman
May 16, 2013
Whether you are an employee, resident, citizen or member of another group, you can learn from the lessons I’ve learned while exhaustively investigating a story about running and saving county nursing...
Sleeper measures could cut Medicare payments to skilled care operators
By
John O'Connor
Mar 31, 2014
As far as skilled care is concerned, most recent reporting on a major Medicare bill has all but overlooked what’s in the bill for the sector. And it’s not trivial.