Senate Democrats poised to introduce package to replace sequester cuts
By
McKnight's Staff
Feb 13, 2013
Democrats in the Senate could introduce a bill this week to replace the automatic spending cuts known as the sequester, which is scheduled to take effect March 1. Many long-term care stakeholders have...
Obama recommits to preserving Medicare in coming sequester battle
By
McKnight's Staff
Feb 11, 2013
President Barack Obama reaffirmed his vow to protect Medicare in the fight over sequestration spending cuts last week.
RAC audits: Skilled nursing facilities accounted for miniscule portion of 2011 Medicare overpayments
By
McKnight's Staff
Feb 07, 2013
Skilled nursing facilities accounted for only about $200,000 of $797 million in collected Medicare overpayments in 2011 identified by Recovery Audit Contractors, according to an annual audit report released...
Medicare, Medicaid fight could take center stage after debt ceiling extension
By
McKnight's Staff
Jan 23, 2013
Medicare and Medicaid funds could face steep cuts in the House of Representatives’ 2014 budget. GOP congressional leaders have promised dramatic spending reductions to rally conservative support...
Medicare payment rate for hospices should not rise in 2014, MedPAC says
By
McKnight's Staff
Jan 15, 2013
The Medicare payment rate for hospices should not increase in 2014, according to recommendations to Congress announced Monday by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commision (MedPAC).
CMS angling to ease providers’ burdens from Medicare Administrative Contractors
By
McKnight's Staff
Jan 10, 2013
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is asking providers to help figure out a way to make demands from Medicare Administrative Contractors less burdensome.
Campaign 2012 boosted importance, value of nursing home care in public policy dialogue
By
Alan G. Rosenbloom
Nov 12, 2012
Despite the customary complaints about negativity and the avalanche of TV ads, the 2012 campaign was unusually substantive from the standpoint of the entitlement reform discussion because both sides were...
Medicare payment board would slash government payments to SNF providers, paper says
By
McKnight's Staff
Oct 24, 2012
The Affordable Care Act’s controversial Medicare payment board would be an “agent for reimbursement cuts to Medicare,” according to a policy paper released Wednesday.
New bill would limit power of Medicare recovery audit contractors
By
McKnight's Staff
Oct 17, 2012
Legislation introduced Tuesday aims to reduce some of the authority Medicare’s recovery audit contractors (RACs) wield over investigations into provider claims.
CMS is two weeks late issuing report on fraud prevention efforts
By
McKnight's Staff
Oct 17, 2012
Two Republican Senators want to know why the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is two weeks overdue in issuing a report on the agency’s fraud prevention system (FPS).