Large-scale bundling of government reimbursements is needed, say researchers who have studied the topic. Post-acute care was the fastest growing major healthcare spending category for government programs...
Right-to-try gains support
By
John Hall
Apr 04, 2016
Congress is considering easing federal laws prohibiting terminally ill patients from trying unapproved experimental drugs as a last-ditch effort to extend or save their lives.
OIG finds ‘observation stay’ problems, calls for reform
By
James M. Berklan
Sep 01, 2013
Long-term care groups are among those hailing a federal study that raises critical questions about hospitals’ apparent over-use of “observation stay” designations for patients.
Lawmakers target SNFs’ big payer for fraud, waste cuts
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 08, 2018
A pair of Congressional subcommittees focused on oversight have banded together to examine ways to reduce Medicaid fraud and waste.
MedPAC calls for payment reforms to come even earlier
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 06, 2017
Federal lawmakers’ advisory panel for Medicare made it official in its report to Congress in June: It recommends implementation of a unified post-acute payment system beginning in 2021 — three...
Pay-for-performance test run yields mixed results: report
By
James M. Berklan
Sep 01, 2012
An Affordable Care Act provision testing pay-for-performance incentives faces an uncertain future after a federal demonstration program testing it has so far brought “disconcerting” results.
Ask the payment expert … about inaccurate MDS therapy information
By
Patricia Boyer
Feb 01, 2013
What happens if my therapy company makes an error on the MDS and as a result, a change of therapy was missed? Are we still responsible?
No funds for SNF programs
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 01, 2011
Officials say that some much-ballyhooed programs in the 2010 healthcare reform law aimed at nursing homes could go without funding.
GAO seeks anti-fraud plan
By
Jan 08, 2018
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should beef up its fraud-fighting efforts with a risk-based antifraud strategy for Medicare and Medicaid, the Government Accountability Office said in December.
‘Illusion’ can raise costs
By
John Hall
May 04, 2016
In an effort to improve the use of medical treatments, a University of Pennsylvania Medical School professor is calling for more research to help doctors recognize and manage what some call a “therapeutic...