Congress is getting more involved in healthcare interoperability. Lawmakers have proposed legislation calling for changes to the process in order to speed up and broaden provider inclusion by the end of...
MFP funding pressure builds
By
James M. Berklan
Feb 08, 2018
The National Council on Aging sounded alarm bells in early January, warning that the 12-year-old Money Follows the Person Medicaid program could soon run out of funding. The program promotes greater access...
Rise in improper payments
By
John Hall
Jan 04, 2016
Improper payment levels continue dogging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which announced they rose significantly last year for both health programs. Additionally, the agency reported that...
Budget offers pay concerns
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 08, 2018
Even though a new, unified payment system has been discussed for several years, the mere mention of it in President Trump’s budget proposal jolted observers in February. The budget specifically said...
GAO: Medicaid flaws found
By
James M. Berklan
Oct 01, 2012
People seeking Medicaid coverage for long-term care are subjected to differing asset-verification checks among the states, a new report finds.
‘Persuader rule’ is rejected
By
John O'Connor
Aug 09, 2018
The Department of Labor has officially revoked a rule that requires employers to report whenever they seek assistance from consultants or lawyers to dissuade employees from joining unions.
CMS eases doc delegation
By
James M. Berklan
May 01, 2013
Skilled nursing operators now have greater flexibility in allowing non-physicians to do certain tasks. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services clarified what may be delegated in an April 3 brief.
Medicare Advantage pay to jump as enrollment grows
By
James M. Berklan
May 08, 2018
Medicare Advantage plans will receive a 3.4% uptick in federal payments in 2019. That’s nearly 90% more than the 1.84% increase proposed in February. Notice of the bigger raise came in the Centers...
Ask the Payment Expert about … expedited review
By
Patricia Boyer
Sep 04, 2015
The expedited review process was developed so a resident could quickly appeal the process if he or she disagreed when a facility decided that a resident is no longer covered under skilled services.
Proposal would bring unity to LTC state ombudsmen
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 01, 2013
States have run their respective long-term care ombudsman programs in differing ways for nearly 20 years, but that would change if a new proposal advances.