Senate takes up bill to improve Medicare audits, address RAC concerns
By
McKnight's Staff
May 28, 2013
A new Senate bill addresses provider concerns over the Medicare audit process, including the role of Recovery Audit Contractors. The House is also considering a version of the “Medicare Audit Improvement...
Court upholds $5.75 million verdict against former nursing home officers, board members
By
McKnight's Staff
May 24, 2013
A $5.75 million verdict will stand and there will be no new trial in the case against officers and board members of a former Pennsylvania nursing home, a federal judge recently ruled.
Lawmakers introduce bill to extend pregnant workers’ protections, cite nursing home case
By
McKnight's Staff
May 20, 2013
Lawmakers in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have introduced a bill that would require employers to make reasonable job modifications for pregnant women. The lawmakers were motivated in part...
CMS updates SNF Medicare manual to implement sequestration cuts
By
McKnight's Staff
May 16, 2013
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has updated the online Medicare Provider Reimbursement Manual, modifying instructions related to the 2% reimbursement reductions resulting from sequestration.
Healthcare providers, workers’ unions divided on recently passed bill to swap pay with time off
By
McKnight's Staff
May 13, 2013
The House of Representatives has passed the “Working Families Flexibility Act.” The bill, H.R. 1406, would allow employers to offer paid time off in place of overtime pay, and has put healthcare...
RAC transition: Fewer document requests but no slowing of therapy reviews, CMS says
By
McKnight's Staff
May 10, 2013
Providers will see fewer Additional Document Requests starting in June, as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services transitions to new Recovery Audit Program contracts. CMS has started the contract...
CMS explains therapy cap notification requirement, but more guidance needed, NASL leader says
By
McKnight's Staff
May 09, 2013
A recent Centers for Medicare & Medicaid memorandum provides some clarity regarding new therapy cap notification rules, but providers still need guidance on other aspects of therapy reimbursement, according...
MDS update will expand use of modifications to make changes
By
McKnight's Staff
May 07, 2013
The Minimum Data Set manual will be revised to reflect a new correction policy, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently announced.
Ask the nursing expert … about improving turnover rates
By
Anne Marie Barnett
May 01, 2013
I have been in my director of nursing position at my new job for about three months now and I find that our turnover rate is outrageous. I interview and hire but after orientation, it is hard to keep our...
ITUpdate
May 01, 2013
A growing number of healthcare providers are adopting mobile technologies, a new study by IT trade organization CompTIA has found. A survey of 375 healthcare providers reveals that 60% of respondents currently...