State courts push back on nursing homes’ federal right to arbitrate
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jun 12, 2023
A spate of recent battles over arbitration agreements may force courts and lawmakers to once again tackle who can enter one on behalf of a nursing home resident — and whether they can ever be mandated...
CMS tightens guidance for nursing home dialysis providers
By
Kimberly Marselas
Mar 23, 2023
Federal officials on Wednesday updated guidance meant to improve the delivery of nursing home dialysis, a service many providers have been adding to attract new residents and improve quality of life for...
Data lapses did not affect Five-Star ratings, CMS says as providers call for review of agency’s...
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 13, 2023
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said Wednesday it was taking “seriously” a damning report that questioned the accuracy of information it posted on its Care Compare site, but added that...
Consumer group counterpunches as nursing homes worry about staffing mandate
By
James M. Berklan
Apr 03, 2023
A notable consumer group has released a report accusing government overseers of not adequately tracking billions of dollars given to providers for related party transactions.
CMS proposal offers long-awaited fix for Medicare Advantage appeals
By
Kimberly Marselas
Nov 08, 2023
Skilled nursing providers would get a new, improved appeals process for Medicare Advantage denials under a proposal issued late Monday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Warning on staffing minimum: Studying costs won’t matter if pay doesn’t add up
By
Kimberly Marselas
Aug 30, 2022
Cost analysis will be “an important part” of a final report on federal minimum staffing standards, the head of a national study assured nursing home stakeholders Monday.
CMS outlines 4-pronged minimum staffing study
By
Kimberly Marselas
Aug 23, 2022
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Monday revealed more details about how it will use nursing home site visits, data and other tools to formulate a minimum staffing standard, one that is meant...
‘We will not go back’ to early pandemic restriction, CMS leader says
By
Kimberly Marselas
Joe Bush
Oct 17, 2022
Promoting a return to normalcy, a top CMS official said Sunday that nursing homes will not return to the stringent isolation policies of the early pandemic.
CMS posts alleged deficiencies on Nursing Home Care Compare
By
Alan C. Horowitz, Esq., RN
Jan 25, 2023
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services conveys its policies (and directives) through its Quality, Safety & Oversight (QSO) memos. On Jan. 18, 2023, CMS announced that beginning on Jan. 25, 2023,...
As CMS tightens vise on Medicare Advantage, providers argue for even more help
By
Kimberly Marselas
Feb 15, 2023
Forty-five days after proposing changes that attempt to rein in some of the most-criticized practices of Medicare Advantage plans, federal officials now must filter through nearly 1,000 formal comments.