Despite lack of complaints, CMS warns providers not to take resident stimulus checks
By
Danielle Brown
Jun 12, 2020
Nursing home providers that seize stimulus checks from residents could be removed from participating in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, the Trump Administration warned this week.
Ask the payment expert … about RACs
Apr 06, 2015
I thought the Recovery Audit Contractors were on hold, so why did I receive a request from our RAC for a Medicare Advantage resident?
Ask the payment expert … about regs vs. resident choice
By
Patricia Boyer
Nov 01, 2014
We are going through culture change and wonder if surveyors will be more lenient with regulations if we do something that is resident choice?
CMS: Nurse shortage means hospices can keep using contracted workers
By
Tim Mullaney
Oct 08, 2014
Hospices can continue to rely on contract nurses because an ongoing nurse shortage is preventing providers from meeting their staffing needs, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced in a...
Why the New York Times’ ‘hatchet job’ shows better days are coming to long-term care
By
John O'Connor
Aug 26, 2014
A pall hangs over this sector at the moment, thanks to the New York Times.
Medicare should pay for skilled nursing services without a qualifying hospital stay, experts tell Senators
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 31, 2014
The time has come to eliminate hospital stay requirements for beneficiaries to qualify for Medicare coverage of skilled nursing services, experts told a Senate committee Wednesday.
Reducing readmissions should be No. 1 priority for reducing healthcare costs, quality experts say
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 10, 2014
Reducing readmissions would have the most significant impact in bringing down U.S. healthcare costs, according to a survey of health quality experts.
CMS updates manual to reflect F-Tag guidance dating back to 2003
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 08, 2014
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has revised the manual that long-term care facility surveyors refer to, updating interpretive guidelines related to F-Tags.
Senators urge tougher LTC survey process
By
James M. Berklan
May 01, 2014
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said it plans to focus more on quality improvement initiatives rather than stricter surveys, but that didn’t stop a pair of veteran U.S. senators from...
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...