CMS details 5 new scenarios that trigger infection control-focused surveys
By
Danielle Brown
Jan 06, 2021
Multiple weeks with new coronavirus cases or low staffing are among the additional scenarios that will trigger a focused infection control survey at a nursing home, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid...
Therapy caps back on as Congress delays action
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jan 04, 2018
Therapy caps are back on for now, even though Congress may still be prepared to eliminate them in 2018.
Inspector General report: 1 in 7 nursing home residents are incorrectly prescribed psychotropic medications
May 11, 2011
As many as one in seven elderly nursing home residents, most of whom have dementia, are being prescribed expensive, powerful antipsychotic medications that increase the risk of death, according to a report...
CMS survey: Many beneficiaries with chronic pain delaying care
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 22, 2023
A large subset of senior Medicare beneficiaries with debilitating chronic pain have trouble accessing care, or are delaying care, according to CMS survey results released Wednesday.
COVID-19 costs should be baked into the SNF PPS payment structure for ‘foreseeable future,’ AHCA...
By
Danielle Brown
Jun 11, 2020
The federal government should integrate increased costs associated with COVID-19 care in the SNF PPS payment structure for the “foreseeable future” to ensure adequate reimbursement, according to the...
CMS needs to improve oversight of Medicare contractors’ error rate reduction plans, report says
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 21, 2014
Too many Medicare providers are receiving improper payments, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should clamp down by doing a better job overseeing its contractors’ error rate reduction...
States need to step up with nurse aide waiver clearer, providers say
By
Kimberly Marselas
Aug 31, 2022
The formal extension of a waiver program that relaxes certification requirements for some nurse aides was widely embraced by providers a day after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced...
Most nursing home visits banned as part of federal COVID-19 strategy
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 15, 2020
Exceptions include healthcare workers, surveyors and those in compassionate care situations.
Klusch: Providers must take ownership of their PEPPERs
By
Stephanie H. Kim
Jun 04, 2014
It is “totally wrong” for providers to let their PEPPERs fall into the hands of outside vendors, a leading long-term care coding and payment expert warned a national audience on Tuesday.
Higher Medicaid spending away from SNFs here to stay, official says
By
Danielle Brown
Mar 09, 2022
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services expects that Medicaid’s recent trend of spending more on home- and community-based services than institutional care will continue for the foreseeable future,...