BREAKING: CMS finalizes therapy pay cuts in 2022 Physician Pay Rule, and extends COVID reporting period
By
Danielle Brown
James M. Berklan
Nov 02, 2021
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services finalized a 15% payment reduction for physical and occupational therapy assistants, and extended temporary telehealth services added to Medicare during the...
BREAKING: CMS sets new vaccination targets for another 24 states
By
James M. Berklan
Kimberly Marselas
Jan 14, 2022
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced Friday that providers in 24 states added to the federal vaccine mandate roster Thursday have until March 15 to become fully vaccinated.
QIOs uncertain how newly announced CMS plans will help many nursing homes
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 16, 2020
QIOs and major provider organizations were caught off-guard by CMS’s declaration that expansive help would be provided to facilities across the country.
Providers find few silver linings, stew over minimum staffing demands
By
James M. Berklan
Sep 05, 2023
The initial jolt of the newly proposed nursing home staffing mandate has softened little over the long holiday weekend and now those tasked with making it work — providers — are coming to grips with...
Staffing rule could bring system ‘collapse,’ providers say, but CMS stands firm
By
James M. Berklan
Sep 27, 2023
Nursing homes’ leading lobbying organization unloaded a full, research-backed attack on the viability of the White House’s proposed staffing mandate Tuesday. But the administration was unmoved, and...
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 .
This time they really mean it: CMS to host Jimmo ‘Open Door’ conference call Thursday
By
James M. Berklan
Dec 13, 2013
For the second week in a row, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has postponed an eagerly awaited SNF Open Door Forum conference call that will focus on accommodations from the Jimmo case and...
CMS employee vaccination mandate could be unveiled today
By
James M. Berklan
Nov 02, 2021
Long-term care operators may learn details of a new federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers as early as today.
Supreme Court leans toward making healthcare workers choose: Be vaxxed or axed
By
Kimberly Marselas
James M. Berklan
Jan 10, 2022
The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday appeared to show a willingness to back the federal government’s desire to require most healthcare workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Experts fear ‘bigger, stronger stick’ in new Medicare pay rule
By
James M. Berklan
Apr 01, 2024
Nursing home stakeholders are reacting with contempt and concern to key provisions of the newly proposed fiscal 2025 Medicare Part A pay rule.