Government watchdog says CMS should continue prior authorization projects
By
Kimberly Marselas
May 22, 2018
A report issued Monday by the Government Accountability Office says the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should extend tests of a prior authorization program that have saved up to $1.9 billion.
RACs push back against audit improvement bills
By
McKnight's Staff
Jun 06, 2013
An advocacy group for independent Medicare auditors has sharply criticized two bills that would put new controls on Recovery Audit Contractors. The Medicare Audit Improvement Act of 2013 was introduced...
Clinical briefs for Monday, Oct. 17
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 17, 2022
CDC reports higher-than-normal flu cases, upticks in Southeast and South-Central U.S. … Long COVID found among 29% of survivors, women and severely ill most affected … Biden to sign order aiming to...
Also in the News for Friday, March 26
Mar 26, 2021
Senate agrees to delay 2% Medicare sequestration cuts for providers … NY lawmakers vote to repeal immunity protections for nursing homes … Report finds that state officials’ lack of preparation for...
$96M Medicaid funding gap menaces state’s facilities, threatens closures
By
Josh Henreckson
Jan 17, 2024
Persistent and growing Medicaid funding gaps have pushed Maine long-term care leaders to request urgent relief from the state government. The LTC reimbursement shortfall has expanded to $96 million dollars,...
SNFs can ask for a 3-month reprieve in quality reporting
By
John O'Connor
Sep 04, 2015
Skilled nursing facilities unable to provide data to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ new quality reporting program will have a 90-day window to request an exception or extension, officials...
New bill would limit power of Medicare recovery audit contractors
By
McKnight's Staff
Oct 17, 2012
Legislation introduced Tuesday aims to reduce some of the authority Medicare’s recovery audit contractors (RACs) wield over investigations into provider claims.
State Supreme Court takes on law firm ads targeting nursing homes
By
Apr 28, 2016
Law firms running advertisements against specific nursing homes was debated in the Georgia Supreme Court Wednesday.
RAC audits: Skilled nursing facilities accounted for miniscule portion of 2011 Medicare overpayments
By
McKnight's Staff
Feb 07, 2013
Skilled nursing facilities accounted for only about $200,000 of $797 million in collected Medicare overpayments in 2011 identified by Recovery Audit Contractors, according to an annual audit report released...
Oh, the places they’ll go: Provider gives residents the vacation of a lifetime
By
Nov 21, 2017
For many residents living in Signature HealthCARE’s Hometown facilities, vacations weren’t a regular part of pre-long-term care life. There were farms and families to be taken care of, after...