A six-year-old Medicare demonstration program that focuses on pre-approvals for power wheelchairs and other mobility devices will get new life this fall. Overall, 31 items were added to the program, according...
PPS comments are sought
By
James M. Berklan
Aug 09, 2017
Federal regulators have agreed to gather more comments from providers and others on the revision of new skilled nursing prospective payment system case-mix methodology.
CMS plan to target CCRCs
By
James M. Berklan
Feb 02, 2020
A new federal proposal effectively proposing new Medicaid taxes could lead to the closure of some skilled nursing units in continuing care retirement communities in 18 states, according to provider advocates.
RAC battles move forward
By
Amy Novotney
Apr 06, 2015
The debate over whether Recovery Audit Contractor audits are an incentive-laced system of provider harassment or a necessary tool to redistribute misspent Medicare funds continues. Neither side appears...
GAO: Medicaid flaws found
By
James M. Berklan
Oct 01, 2012
People seeking Medicaid coverage for long-term care are subjected to differing asset-verification checks among the states, a new report finds.
Bill could gut scheduling
By
Kimberly Marselas
Sep 01, 2014
A Congressional proposal to provide low-wage hourly employees with more stability and workplace protections could hit nursing homes.
MDS 3.0 updates strike
By
James M. Berklan
Apr 02, 2012
At least providers can’t say they weren’t warned about major changes to the new MDS 3.0 and other resident assessment tools that started this month.
Politicians pressure auditors to back down, paper claims
By
John Andrews
Feb 01, 2015
The prospects of politician intervention with Medicare audits has sparked some debate over whether elected officials are exerting undue influence, or simply defending providers’ rights against government...
Medicare appeals backlog to be fixed by 2020, HHS says
By
James M. Berklan
Dec 06, 2016
Federal health officials say tweaks to the system will enable them to eradicate a massive backlog of Medicare decision appeals in 2019. They made the prediction in a court brief filed in U.S. District...
PET scans for Alzheimer’s rejected for Medicare pay
By
James M. Berklan
Nov 01, 2013
Earlier this year, the Department of Health and Human Services released an action plan for tackling Alzheimer’s diagnostics, treatment and funding.