Improper coding for doctors’ evaluation and management visits costs Medicare billions, OIG report
By
John Hall
May 30, 2014
Documentation coding errors related to routine patient evaluation and management (E/M) visits are costing the Medicare program billions of dollars in improper payments a year — nearly $7 billion alone...
HHS announces new Medicare-Medicaid cost control initiatives
May 12, 2011
A new program from the Department of Health and Human Services will seek to improve care of dual-eligibles, the agency said Wednesday.
Obama deficit-cutting speech cites nursing home care
Apr 14, 2011
President Obama outlined his plan Wednesday to cut the nation’s deficit by $4 trillion in 12 years but also vowed to preserve entitlement programs, including Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.
Ask the payment expert … about Medicare technical requirements
By
Patricia Boyer
Apr 01, 2014
We were told we didn’t meet technical requirements for Medicare. What does that mean?
New calculation method would reduce readmissions penalties, CMS says
By
McKnight's Staff
Apr 30, 2013
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has proposed changing the way hospital readmission penalties are calculated as part of its 2014 Medicare rate update. Potential readmissions penalties for long-term...
LeadingAge: Tough times ahead for long-term care providers
Nov 30, 2011
LeadingAge President and CEO Larry Minnix openly acknowledged Wednesday afternoon that the next two years could be tense and difficult for long-term care providers. He was just one of a handful of experts...
Study: Nursing homes to lose $79 billion in funding
Aug 16, 2011
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ 11.1% reimbursement rate cut to skilled-nursing facilities will reduce Medicare payments to the entire sector by $79 billion over 10 years, according...
HHS wants $10 million potential payday for Medicare fraud whistleblowers
By
McKnight's Staff
Apr 26, 2013
The Department of Health and Human Services is trying to encourage Medicare fraud whistleblowers by substantially increasing their potential reward. The current maximum award of $1,000 would go up to $9.9...
Federal officials crack $375 million home healthcare fraud scheme
By
McKnight's Staff
Feb 29, 2012
Federal officials have brought down what they said is the largest home health fraud scheme ever concocted. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said around $375 million was billed incorrectly to...
Poll: Public strongly supports Medicare, opposes cuts
By
McKnight's Staff
Jan 28, 2013
Medicare spending should not be cut to reduce the national deficit, according to the majority of respondents ina recent national poll from the Harvard School of Public Health, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation...