CMS leaning on providers to form new PDPM pay rates
By
Danielle Brown
Sep 16, 2021
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is relying on data metrics regarding trends or changes in provider behavior, payments and beneficiary care quality as it considers potential adjustments to...
Senate leaders amp up pressure to highlight facility vax rates
By
Danielle Brown
Sep 14, 2021
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is facing additional pressure from two Democratic lawmakers to make COVID-19 vaccination rates among nursing home residents and workers more accessible for...
New CMS guidance allows focused COVID testing during outbreak investigations
By
Danielle Brown
Sep 13, 2021
Updated guidance released Friday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services gives nursing homes more options for conducting a COVID-19 outbreak investigation after a positive test occurs.
CMS provides glimpse into potential vaccine mandate enforcement
By
Danielle Brown
Aug 26, 2021
Providers who fail to quickly comply with a forthcoming federal staff vaccine mandate likely won’t be stripped immediately of their Medicare and Medicaid program eligibility, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid...
Panel on non-invasive ventilation seeks to simplify ‘maze’ of regulation for device coverage
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 20, 2021
Recommendations aimed at expediting CMS coverage determinations for non-invasive ventilation devices could help ensure that LTCF residents and others get quick access to lifesaving treatments.
Oh where, oh where have the annual surveys gone?
By
Jessica Curtis
Jul 16, 2021
During the height of the pandemic, annual surveys of skilled nursing facilities understandably skidded to a stop. Flash forward to August 2020, when the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services directed...
Already public COVID vaccination data could get high-profile makeover as pressure mounts
By
Danielle Brown
Jul 16, 2021
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is facing pressure to publicize nursing home COVID-19 vaccination data in a more consumer-friendly manner.
CMS surprises with therapy pay levels in 2022 Medicare physician fee rule
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 14, 2021
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services pleasantly surprised long-term care therapy providers with several parts of the new 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule that it released Tuesday.
Clinical briefs for Thursday, July 8
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 08, 2021
New CMS Medicare chief was health system exec, former HHS health reform director … More falls may occur in SNFs after admitting residents with existing cognitive decline: study … New health benefits...
Only 4 states have hit 75 percent LTC staff vaccination goal, new CMS data reveal
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 30, 2021
States that have achieved the industry’s June 30 goal are Hawaii, Vermont, Alaska and California, with staff member vaccination rates ranging from 83% to 75%. By contrast, the lowest-ranked state...