Congress should pass this provider-endorsed Medicare bill, and then go further
By
James M. Berklan
Aug 11, 2023
Despite today’s hyper-partisan divisions, there’s one nursing home-focused measure that should be a slam dunk among members of both major political parties.
The boss at CMS has some nice things to say about regulations
By
John O'Connor
Jan 22, 2018
It appears there may be some good news ahead, courtesy of the boss at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
CMS not saying much about a payment deal that could be a game changer
By
John O'Connor
Jul 08, 2013
In recent years, many skilled care operators have nervously watched the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reduce and sometimes eliminate payments for physical, occupational and speech therapy services....
Message from the White House: Don’t trust nursing homes
By
John O'Connor
Mar 08, 2013
Ever wonder how much regard the White House has for long-term care operators? A brief filed last week makes the answer abundantly clear: very little.
A Medicare Advantage fix: What took so long?
By
James M. Berklan
Apr 12, 2024
Providers hoping that policy makers might some day show some backbone when dealing with Medicare Advantage plans can take heart. Well, at least a little.
It’s pretty clear what they’re really committed to
By
John O'Connor
Jul 17, 2015
It was quite a week for ironic juxtaposition in the nation’s capital.
What Election Day may spell for skilled care
By
Marty Stempniak
Oct 30, 2018
We’ve been talking about it for months and now the day of reckoning has almost arrived: Election Day is just one week away, and the stakes could be very high for the skilled nursing crowd. The makeup...
What we have here is a failure to capitulate
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 08, 2011
The saga of Donald Berwick as administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services took an interesting, if not sadly predictable, turn last week. Opponents of his patron, President Obama, called...
It’s not easy being the designated villain
By
John O'Connor
Feb 20, 2023
Let’s face it, you have one mega-sized target on your back if you run a nursing home. One that people in most other fields never have to worry much about.
ICD-10 is around the corner, for real this time
Sep 18, 2014
There’s a looming massive report on all the hospital readmissions data in your area and the strategic plan your facility needs to pursue. It involves talking to lots of employees, gathering data,...