Hospitals using post-acute care as their ‘piggy-bank’
By
Elizabeth Newman
Sep 06, 2019
Hospitals have saved money in alternative payment models through reducing institutional post-acute care, especially in skilled nursing. Perhaps even worse, they are potentially headed toward unintended...
A homecare discharge may hike readmission risk: study
By
James M. Berklan
Aug 01, 2019
Regulators’ push to send more frail elderly people home to receive care received a ringing non-endorsement from University of Chicago researchers recently.
CMS wants $45 million more to boost survey enforcement
By
James M. Berklan
May 01, 2019
Nursing homes soon could face tougher state surveys and greater regulatory scrutiny.
CMS: Stop ‘info blocking’
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 07, 2019
Federal regulators struck hard toward improving interoperability and information sharing between skilled nursing facilities and other providers.
New bid may be underway to foster Medicaid block grants
By
James M. Berklan
Feb 05, 2019
The administration is considering sidestepping Congress to make another run at using state block grants to pay for Medicaid funding, according to a published report.
ACOs overreach authority?
By
James M. Berklan
Feb 05, 2019
Providers have professed gratitude for recent federal proposals to improve accountable care organizations’ design and operation. But efforts to limit healthcare utilization should be scrapped, said the...
MedPAC: No SNF pay raise
By
James M. Berklan
Jan 04, 2019
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission is attempting again to stiff nursing homes while also eyeing quick action on payment system reform.
Medicaid changes sought
By
James M. Berklan
Dec 05, 2018
Skilled care providers were reacting with caution to proposed “significant” changes to private Medicaid plans that federal officials say will lessen regulatory burdens and give states more flexibility.
Pay switch costs a bundle
By
James M. Berklan
Nov 02, 2018
Total episode payments declined but the Medicare program lost big from 2013 to 2016 with Bundled Payments for Care Improvement. The total cost was nearly $290 million. Model 2, the most commonly used track...
Ask the Payment Expert? Why am I not receiving incentive payments for FY 2019?
By
Patricia Boyer
Nov 02, 2018
Why am I not receiving incentive payments for FY 2019 SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP) and Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) are separate, but related, programs. QRP is required by the IMPACT ACT to collect...