Medicare’s Recovery Audit Contractor program continues to struggle with controversy.
CMS announces Medicare appeals without administrative law judge hearings
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 07, 2014
Long-term care providers will be able to appeal certain Medicare claims decisions without going through an administrative law judge hearing, the Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA) announced...
Plan of correction can be anything but, as this provider learns the hard way
By
John O'Connor
Apr 28, 2014
Justice has an odd way of showing itself if you’re a nursing facility that disagrees with a deficiency citation but decides to work with inspectors to clear your name. You’re not going to believe...
States can designate more nursing homes in urgent need of quality improvement, government says
By
Tim Mullaney
Apr 22, 2014
The federal government is reactivating the special focus facility program for nursing homes with quality issues, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced. The program was minimized due...
Top 5 news stories reveal varied interests among long-term care professionals
By
John O'Connor
Jan 03, 2014
What do neck abnormalities, dangerous bacteria, a murder-suicide, a defensive nursing home chain, and antipsychotic guidelines have in common? These five developments were voted the most popular news stories...
CMS allows less-severe citations for nursing homes installing a sprinkler system
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 19, 2013
Nursing homes might be able to reduce the scope and severity of deficiency citations related to sprinkler systems, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently announced.
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.
Nursing homes will be subject to escrow for all civil monetary penalties, CMS announces
By
Tim Mullaney
Sep 05, 2013
Nursing homes facing a civil monetary penalty due to any type of deficiency will be subject to escrow and entitled to request an independent informal dispute resolution process, according to a newly issued...
$30 million cut from Medicare
By
Tim Mullaney
Sep 01, 2013
Skilled nursing facilities will see $470 million in aggregate 2014 Medicare reimbursements, which is $30 million less than projected in a proposed rule, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid...
Hospital, nursing home information sharing to become ‘routine,’ government agencies say
By
Tim Mullaney
Aug 09, 2013
As sharing of electronic health information becomes standard across all care settings, using technology may become a prerequisite for providers to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, according...