Because it does not allow for states’ consent, the proposed Medicaid Patient CARE Act block-grant program likely will be considered unconstitutional, say two public policy authorities.
Interoperability pressured
By
John Andrews
May 08, 2015
Congress is getting more involved in healthcare interoperability. Lawmakers have proposed legislation calling for changes to the process in order to speed up and broaden provider inclusion by the end of...
RAC battles move forward
By
Amy Novotney
Apr 06, 2015
The debate over whether Recovery Audit Contractor audits are an incentive-laced system of provider harassment or a necessary tool to redistribute misspent Medicare funds continues. Neither side appears...
Ask the payment expert … about RACs
Apr 06, 2015
I thought the Recovery Audit Contractors were on hold, so why did I receive a request from our RAC for a Medicare Advantage resident?
HHS gives shooter guidance for healthcare facilities
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 01, 2015
Federal agencies have issued guidance for how healthcare providers should prepare for an active shooter emergency. The 33-page document covers threat assessment, actions to take during and after an emergency,...
CMS should push Congress on therapy rate upgrades: AHCA
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 01, 2014
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should openly urge Congress to change therapy reimbursement, the nation’s largest long-term care provider association stated in recent written comments...
Hospice billings changed
By
Tim Mullaney
Oct 01, 2014
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently updated instructions on coding hospice claims. Billing staffs should be aware of these changes, which went into effect Oct. 1, CMS stated in a memorandum...
Better anti-fraud efforts are not appeasing lawmakers
By
Tim Mullaney
Aug 01, 2014
Long-term care facilities and other Medicare providers increasingly have seen reimbursements influenced by the government’s Fraud Prevention System, an official recently told a Congressional panel.
Panel slams fee for service
By
Amy Novotney
Jul 01, 2014
The predominance of fee-for-service payment methods is the greatest barrier to improving efficiency in the nation’s healthcare system, according to a May 29 report from a panel of White House advisors....
Penalty process explained
By
Tim Mullaney
May 01, 2014
A long-term care facility that has been slapped with a civil monetary penalty has 10 days to file for an independent informal dispute resolution process, according to a recent manual update from the Centers...