At press time, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services was preparing, to implement its interim Resource Utilization Group-Version 4 (RUG-IV) system Oct. 1.
New OT pay threshold search underway
By
James M. Berklan
Dec 06, 2017
Although the Trump administration didn’t like its predecessor’s new threshold for determining overtime pay eligibility, it apparently is taking steps to raise the cut off point.
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.
Why are Medicare cuts bad? Industry has a billion reasons
By
James M. Berklan
Jun 01, 2009
Billions of dollars worth of unintended costs and consequences could be the fallout if the government follows through with a proposal to cut Medicare payments by $1.05 billion next year, nursing home advocates...
Lawmakers take aim at arbitration pacts
By
James M. Berklan
May 01, 2008
A new Senate bill seeks to eliminate providers’ ability to bind residents to pre-dispute arbitration agreements.
‘SFF’ moniker is rarely fatal
By
Elizabeth Newman
Jul 17, 2019
An operation with a Special Focus Facilities designation isn’t necessarily a non-starter for savvy providers, and the SFF label might misrepresent what’s actually happening on the ground, according...
Medicare days tapering off?
By
John O'Connor
Apr 08, 2018
Medicare beneficiaries are spending 15% fewer per-capita days in skilled nursing facilities since 2009, according to a new analysis. The trend likely reflects a drop in days in hospitals — whose practices...
Medicare payment group changes name
By
John O'Connor
Apr 06, 2015
A Medicare payment watchdog group saddled with huge case backlogs and heavily criticized for causing delays in resolving reimbursement issues has changed its name and location on the web.
Rate drops for antipsychotics
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 04, 2015
Industry leaders were pleasantly surprised to learn that nursing home operators had exceeded goals for lowering unnecessary antipsychotics use. The level dropped by nearly 20% over a three-year span.
Liability costs will climb 5%
By
James M. Berklan
Jan 01, 2014
Long-term care operators can expect a 5% increase in liability costs in 2014, according to a new analysis from Aon Global Risk Consulting and the American Health Care Association.