Lawmakers demand answers, imply oversight is inadequate
By
James M. Berklan
May 08, 2018
Legislators’ request for sweeping information about federal regulators’ oversight of nursing homes is part of a House Energy and Commerce Committee official inquiry. A letter from four U.S....
$30 million cut from Medicare
By
Tim Mullaney
Sep 01, 2013
Skilled nursing facilities will see $470 million in aggregate 2014 Medicare reimbursements, which is $30 million less than projected in a proposed rule, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid...
Court rejects arbitration ban
By
Dec 06, 2016
A federal court in November granted the American Health Care Association’s request for an injunction of the ban on pre-dispute arbitration agreements, despite believing the ban was “based upon...
Feds: Without more funds, we are cutting provider oversight
By
James M. Berklan
Jun 01, 2014
Nursing providers could feel reduced heat from federal Medicare and Medicaid oversight activities — if an agency official’s testimony is to be believed as more than just budget-request bluster.
Avalere: SNFs facing $65 billion in losses
By
James M. Berklan
Sep 01, 2012
A 1.8% increase in Medicare payments to skilled nursing providers that starts next month will essentially be negated by losses expected from sequestration and the enactment of fresh “bad debt”...
HHS issues rule that speeds up appeals
By
Elizabeth Newman
Feb 05, 2017
A Department of Health and Human Services final rule may allow providers to move more quickly through the backlog of 700,000-plus Medicare-related appeals.
DOL drops defense of Obama overtime rule
By
Aug 09, 2017
The Department of Labor’s fight to enact an overtime rule that has caused anxiety for providers won’t be continued by the new administration, according to court documents filed in June.
Senators want to know more about nursing home ratings
By
James M. Berklan
Oct 05, 2015
The Government Accountability Office is becoming well-versed at digging into the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ nursing home ratings system.
CMS to revise audit practices
By
John O'Connor
Jun 01, 2013
Here’s the good news for providers dealing with Recovery Audit Program contractors: The federal government will make fewer additional document requests, starting this month. Now the not-so-good news:...
Medicare cuts on pace to top $782 million, Alliance claims
Sep 01, 2012
Operators are bracing for a 2% Medicare pay cut that is slated to kick in Jan. 1. That translates to $782 million in reimbursement reductions per year over the next decade, according to an industry assessment...