National provider call to focus on reducing antipsychotics use, improving dementia care in nursing homes
Jan 25, 2013
Providers are invited to take part in a 90-minute teleconference Thursday that is aimed at improving dementia care in nursing homes. The mission of the National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care will...
Future of Quality Improvement Organizations the focus of special Open Door Forum
By
McKnight's Staff
Jan 18, 2013
Providers interested in the future development of Quality Improvement Organizations will want to clear their schedule for 12:30 Eastern Time on Thursday. That’s when The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid...
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.
Health spending now tops $2.7 trillion
Jan 09, 2013
Healthcare spending totaled $2.7 trillion in 2011 and accounted for 17.9% of the nation’s gross domestic product, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Health outlays rose by...
Don’t get burned! Regulatory updates you need to know
By
Lisa Thomson, LNHA
Jan 02, 2013
As leaders in post-acute care, we need to stay abreast of the regulatory changes and its impact on our operations. In healthcare the one thing that remains consistent is change! Effective December 1, 2012,...
OIG: Assisted living needs to up information, compliance levels on HCBS
Dec 13, 2012
Concerns about home- and community-based services (HCBS) at assisted living facilities were raised in a report released Tuesday by the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
OIG: Hospitals err 18% of the time with point-of-admission indicators
By
McKnight's Staff
Nov 28, 2012
A lack of uniformity among hospital coders for developing conditions is a main reason for the “point of admission” errors, according to a Monday report from the Department of Health and Human...
Medication adherence strategies for lowering hospital readmission rates
By
Bill Shields
Nov 15, 2012
Nearly one in five Medicare patients return to the hospital within a month of discharge, costing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) an extra $17.5 billion in 2010. Multi-medication packaging...
CMS nudges beneficiaries away from low-performing MA plans
By
McKnight's Staff
Nov 07, 2012
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is encouraging around 375,00 Medicare Advantage members to re-evaluate their plans.
CMS issues full Sandy waivers
By
McKnight's Staff
Nov 06, 2012
In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued blanket waivers that include skilled nursing providers. That means long-term care facilities in New York and New...