A new federal work plan declares that even the Medicare contractors charged with keeping close tabs on long-term care facilities will be put under the microscope during fiscal 2013.
CMS wants burdens eased
By
James M. Berklan
Feb 01, 2013
Providers will have their say about the future of Medicare Administrative Contractors.
Hospices earning high scores on newly released ratings
By
Sep 06, 2017
Hospice providers are showing impressive scores on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ new Hospice Compare website — but those high grades have led some to question the site’s efficacy.
Feds offer more support for workers’ background checks
By
James M. Berklan
Apr 01, 2013
A federal agency is again offering to put its money where its mouth is when it comes to employee background checks for long-term care providers. All direct-care employees could potentially be affected.
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.
Family wins camera case
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 06, 2017
The Minnesota Department of Health ruled against a provider recently in a closely watched case involving a surveillance camera in a resident room.
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?
Ask the payment expert … about RACs
Apr 06, 2015
I thought the Recovery Audit Contractors were on hold, so why did I receive a request from our RAC for a Medicare Advantage resident?
CMS warns providers not to skip resident interviews
By
James M. Berklan
Feb 01, 2012
Skilled nursing operators, apparently overwhelmed or defiant, have not been completing resident interviews as mandated by the new MDS 3.0 resident assessment tool, a top official with the Centers for Medicare...
Ask the Payment Expert about … expedited review
By
Patricia Boyer
Sep 04, 2015
The expedited review process was developed so a resident could quickly appeal the process if he or she disagreed when a facility decided that a resident is no longer covered under skilled services.