Medicare pays for opioids over alternatives, lawmakers say
By
Kimberly Marselas
Feb 16, 2018
Lawmakers took a long-standing industry complaint to the Department of Health and Human Services this week, telling Secretary Alex Azar that Medicare and Medicaid favor opioid prescription over non-addictive...
Providers receive two-year reprieve on non-emergency transport coverage
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jun 25, 2019
A month after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services planned to repeal a requirement that state Medicaid programs cover transportation for non-emergency medical care, the agency still has not acted....
Provider’s payout in whistleblower billing fraud case approaches $60 million
By
Kimberly Marselas
Mar 30, 2018
A New York provider serving elderly and disabled Medicaid beneficiaries has reached a $10.3 million settlement in a state and federal case over long-term care payments.
Watchdog puts Medicaid on the spot to improve transparency
By
Kimberly Marselas
May 20, 2019
Medicaid demonstration projects that could affect skilled nursing operators often lack transparency, government investigators charge.
Nursing homes inflating self-assessments to improve Five-Star ratings, study claims
By
Kimberly Marselas
Dec 14, 2017
Investigators from the University of Connecticut report that at least 6% of nursing homes inflate their self-reported measures — “most often the larger and for-profit facilities that stand to gain...
CMS provides first look at shorter, Risk-Based Survey process
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 04, 2024
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Wednesday revealed initial information about a potential “Risk-Based Survey” option that could be available to some of the nation’s best performing...
Nurse shortages escalate hiring challenges at providers’ regional offices
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jun 15, 2023
Large skilled nursing chains are finding it increasingly difficult to hire and retain regional staff amid a nursing shortage and changing attitudes about work-life balance.
Medicare Advantage slowing COVID discharges to SNFs: report
By
Kimberly Marselas
Sep 02, 2021
A new report finds Medicare Advantage restrictions are also creating log jams in hospitals desperate to discharge patients to post-acute care and free up needed beds.
Rural towns ravaged by healthcare and job losses with latest nursing home closures
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jul 07, 2019
When Minnesota’s Twin Valley Living Center closed late last year, it took with it dozens of beds intended for the town’s frail and elderly. But, as with hundreds of other skilled care communities around...
Critics say Texas-based nursing home operator using bankruptcy to hide from dozens of lawsuits
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jan 29, 2018
Preferred Care of Plano filed for bankruptcy in November claiming in court that more than 160 lawsuits led to its financial demise.