Medicare Advantage rule finalizes independent appeals process, helping providers ‘stuck in the middle’
By
Josh Henreckson
Apr 08, 2024
A final rule announced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Thursday revised the appeals process for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries who have been denied coverage. The new rule should be a...
Cost, interpretation of new enhanced barrier precautions worry providers as rule kicks in
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 03, 2024
A new set of regulations requiring the use of enhanced barrier precautions for many nursing home patients has left providers scrambling to understand the rationale behind some standards and grappling with...
A slap in the face for LPNs who keep nursing homes running
By
Kimberly Marselas
Sep 19, 2023
There are about 175,000 LPNs working in nursing homes — critical staff members who might no longer fit into the SNF job market if the proposed staffing rule is finalized as currently written.
Nursing homes weigh pros, cons of new weight loss drugs as limited Medicare coverage kicks in
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 22, 2024
A recent decision by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to cover popular new weight loss drugs that provide additional health benefits could be a “game changer” for potentially thousands...
Providers prepare for new vaccine threats as mandate officially sunsets
By
Kimberly Marselas
Aug 03, 2023
The end of the nationwide COVID-19 vaccine healthcare worker mandate arrives Saturday, and with it new costly concerns as well.
Medicare Advantage plans intent on skirting new rules, providers fear
By
Kimberly Marselas
Dec 01, 2023
Aging services providers are increasingly concerned that powerful Medicare Advantage plans will not fall into line under new federal rules, which were once seen as the possible beginning of a tide change...
How do we know if we know what we don’t know?
By
Steven Levenson
Sep 08, 2023
The amount of knowledge and skill involved in complying with the OBRA regulations is monumental. Every topic, from pressure injury prevention to behavior management, has many tec hnical details and clinical...
Meet the providers who already would satisfy the nursing home staffing mandate
By
Kimberly Marselas
Dec 14, 2023
There were few silver linings to be found In the nursing home staffing proposal earlier this year. But a detailed examination of the rule and continued review of federal data show there is reason to hope...
Parkinson says proposed staffing mandate a ‘death sentence’ for rural nursing homes, offers answers
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 19, 2023
Long-term care industry advocates pulled no punches Wednesday when asked at a Sanford Health summit about likely outcomes facing rural operators if CMS’s proposed minimum staffing mandate becomes...
CMS makes 60 changes to finalize new MDS playbook
By
James M. Berklan
Aug 25, 2023
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released the final version of the new Resident Assessment Instrument manual Thursday .