News analysis: Medicare deficit rose by $1.2 trillion last year
May 20, 2008
The federal government accrued $2.5 trillion in new financial obligations to entitlement programs last year, far surpassing the reported figures of $162 billion, according to a new analysis from USA Today.
‘Not a shock:’ MedPAC considering 5% pay cut for SNFs
By
Danielle Brown
Dec 14, 2021
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission is leaning toward recommending a 5% pay cut for skilled nursing facilities in fiscal 2021 after a new report found that Medicare margins may indicate SNF pay rates...
Why providers aren’t elated about new pay-for-quality goals
By
James M. Berklan
Jan 28, 2015
You can forgive long-term care providers if they weren’t outwardly jumping for joy at Monday’s announcement that Medicare is going to start paying for quality, and not quantity, of services.
Governor signs bill that gives nursing homes $700 million funding boost
By
Danielle Brown
Jun 02, 2022
A $700 million Medicaid funding boost is coming to Illinois providers after Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) on Tuesday signed nursing home reform legislation that ties the Medicaid increases to higher staffing...
Be careful about showing appreciation during unstable times
By
Paul White
Oct 21, 2016
Sometimes well-meaning supervisors (and sometimes leaders who don’t want to do the hard work of dealing with problems) try to use appreciation as a “quick fix” for deeper issues that...
Ask the payment expert
By
Patricia Boyer
Nov 01, 2007
What is the value of having a daily “stand-up” meeting in our facility?
Missing or wrong data at admissions costs SNFs millions
By
Danielle Brown
May 23, 2022
SCHAUMBURG, Il. — Skilled nursing providers are leaving millions of reimbursement dollars on the table due to avoidable and costly billing errors — with most coming during the intake and admissions...
Regulators delaying new MDS 3.0 nursing home payment system to ‘minimize confusion’
Mar 06, 2009
Federal healthcare regulators on Thursday announced a sweeping round of delays for an updated tool to enhance the nursing home payment system. The rollout of MDS 3.0 is now targeted for October 2010 and...
Ensign execs see potential 5% PDPM cut as acquisition opportunity, concerned about CMS calculations
By
Danielle Brown
May 03, 2021
A recalibration of the Patient Driven Payment Model’s parity adjustment has several long-term care operators worried about potential steep cuts to skilled nursing reimbursements. But executives with...
Study reminds providers about the tough prospect of putting up or stepping aside
By
James M. Berklan
Jan 20, 2016
My friend Rich admittedly didn’t know much about the group of school kids he was about to oversee. But as a business manager, he told me he had his own favorite method of ironing out disagreements...