Reviewing the top 10 errors in rehab documentation
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Apr 23, 2013
As a long-term care therapy consultant, I work on a lot of claim reviews and denials management with my clients. I’ve also read a lot of peer-review research articles related to this subject, and...
The importance of data accuracy
By
Steven Littlehale
Apr 10, 2013
Has a day gone by when you haven’t heard about a new healthcare reform requirement coming of age? This month skilled nursing facilities were supposed to have started having an operational compliance...
Do you know your P’s and Q’s of QAPI?
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Feb 21, 2013
The Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement system from CMS is on our doorsteps. As facilities have been training and educating themselves, the new QIS (Quality Indicator Surveys) are ready to roll....
New ATRA cut to Medicare Part B Therapy Payments latest destabilizing blow to spector
By
Alan G. Rosenbloom
Feb 13, 2013
With $9 billion in Budget Relief Act sequester cuts to the U.S. skilled nursing facility (SNF) sector now just weeks away following the latest cut of at least $600 million in Medicare Part B therapy payments...
Loopholes to help you track Medicare Part B therapy billing
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Feb 06, 2013
Every time we send our patients to the hospital for rehab-related tests, exams or services, these services are billed to Medicare Part B, and, therefore, reduce our cap allowances. Any small oversights...
Cashing in on grief
By
Gary Tetz
Jan 03, 2013
I know being cynical is bad for me. I’m sure it’s even worse for my health than all the arsenic in my rice. It’s probably killing me slowly and softly, as its tentacles snake into my...
Campaign 2012 boosted importance, value of nursing home care in public policy dialogue
By
Alan G. Rosenbloom
Nov 12, 2012
Despite the customary complaints about negativity and the avalanche of TV ads, the 2012 campaign was unusually substantive from the standpoint of the entitlement reform discussion because both sides were...
The Manual Medical Review mess
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Oct 29, 2012
What a mess — and that’s probably an understatement! Medicare Part B decided to roll out its new manual medical review process by dividing providers into three phases. If you are unfortunate to...
With new rules, more payment denials expected
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Oct 02, 2012
Here it comes again! The Oct 1, 2012, federal regulatory changes will not only impact reimbursement but new reporting requirements also will multiply denials for skilled nursing providers across the country.
Short-term rehab pros and cons
Sep 11, 2012
These types of short-term rehab patients usually produce the highest reimbursement rates. However, if you’re a facility that struggles with admissions and census, be aware that the length of stay...