Why are more RAC audits happening? There are trillions of reasons
By
John O'Connor
Sep 10, 2012
Recovery audit contractors are stepping up their efforts to review Medicare billings. This appears to be a classic case of auditors gone wild.
The budget and a lack of friends
By
James M. Berklan
Feb 04, 2015
If there’s one thing long-time political observers can tell you with certainty, it is this: You can make friends when you pass laws, but you rarely do when you propose a budget.
Regardless of fiscal cliff outcome, funding cuts loom
By
John O'Connor
Nov 26, 2012
We’re hearing much out of Washington these days about the looming fiscal cliff. Assessments about its impact run the gamut from no big deal to very big deal. As is usually the case, the truth is...
SNF therapy billing controversy rises from the dead
By
Elizabeth Newman
Oct 02, 2015
Despite my love of Halloween, there is one component of it that is distinctly not for me: Horror movies. Still, I’m enough of a pop culture enthusiast that I can appreciate those with an appetite...
Lawmakers have a lot to answer for when providers make Hill visits Tuesday
By
Liza Berger
Feb 19, 2010
When long-term care providers hit Capitol Hill Tuesday their congressmen better be prepared.
This cliffhanger shows few signs of a happy ending
By
John O'Connor
Oct 19, 2012
If you are hoping to learn before the Nov. 6 election whether planned federal budget cuts might be avoided, I have some advice: forget about it.
Some of the extras seem to be going off the script
By
James M. Berklan
Feb 01, 2011
For anyone who thinks most of the good scripts are in Hollywood, I say look east. The nation’s capital can more than hold its own when it comes to creating story lines that are interesting and unpredictable.
A Father’s Day gift — from a father
By
James M. Berklan
May 16, 2012
Now that Mother’s Day has passed, it’s on to the next best thing, Father’s Day. This year, one long-term care professional has created an extra special twist to it, even though it’s...
A pro-union move that will put ‘democracy’ to the test
By
John O'Connor
May 14, 2018
A newly proposed bill could give unions quite a boost. At your expense. Called the “Workplace Democracy Act,” don’t let the name fool you. From an operator’s perspective, there’s...
Immigration reform won’t solve long-term care’s fundamental staffing challenge
By
John O'Connor
Apr 05, 2013
Long-term care operators are understandably giddy about the sudden prospect of immigration reform. But they might want to curb their enthusiasm.