Lawmakers blast federal efforts to monitor and police Medicare fraud — again
By
McKnight's Staff
Jun 11, 2012
Lawmakers again hammered the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Medicare program integrity contractors Friday. The latest salvos were fueled by an agency admission that additional mistakes...
Medicare beneficiaries supportive of ACOs, despite rough start
By
McKnight's Staff
Jun 11, 2012
Despite a somewhat rocky start, Medicare beneficiaries have been supportive of accountable care organizations, a government official said.
CMS defends ‘passive enrollment’ into dual eligible demonstration programs
By
McKnight's Staff
Jun 05, 2012
Government officials say safeguards are in place to prevent dually eligible Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries from losing access to care when they enroll in demonstration projects.
The future of antipsychotics
By
Elizabeth Newman
Jun 05, 2012
It turns out McKnight’s Editor Jim Berklan is psychic, or at least a well-read prognosticator of long-term care.
Capitated payments popular in states participating in dual eligible demonstration
By
McKnight's Staff
May 31, 2012
Of the states participating in federal demonstration programs that coordinate care for dual eligibles, most are pursuing a capitated payment model, a government official said this week.
CMS debuts antipsychotic drug reduction program
By
McKnight's Staff
May 30, 2012
Federal officials unveiled a medication reduction initiative with an ambitious goal: trimming antipsychotic drug use among residents by 15% this year. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’...
Federal nursing home-to-community transition program falling woefully short, researchers say
By
McKnight's Staff
May 29, 2012
A program meant to transition nursing home residents out of institutional care and into their own communities is not meeting projected transfer rates, a national analysis finds.
OIG: Regulators need to sharpen retrieval of Medicare overpayments made to providers
By
McKnight's Staff
May 25, 2012
Medicare recovery audit contractors have not been diligent enough in collecting previously identified overpayments, a government investigation finds.
Sprinkler mandate fails to soak in
By
John O'Connor
May 25, 2012
Ben Franklin warned us that death and taxes are life’s only certainties. But if you run a long-term care facility, feel free to add regulations to that list. And it looks like a doozy of a looming...
Obama pushes for Tavenner confirmation hearing
By
McKnight's Staff
May 24, 2012
The Obama Administration is pushing the Senate Democrats to hold a confirmation hearing for Marilyn Tavenner, acting administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, according to news reports.