Low-quality Medicare Advantage plans should expect scrutiny, CMS says
By
McKnight's Staff
Apr 13, 2012
Medicare Advantage plans with fewer than five stars on the quality scale should expect some form of audit, a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid official said this week.
CMS releases list of 27 ACOs
By
McKnight's Staff
Apr 11, 2012
Physicians largely lead the first group of Medicare Shared Savings accountable care organizations, but long-term care facilities will be an integral part of their future success, a Centers for Medicare...
Providers would be overburdened by Medicare overpayment rule, expert notes
By
McKnight's Staff
Apr 06, 2012
A proposed rule that would require Medicare providers to return overpayments within 60 days of detection could significantly increase administrative time and costs, an expert says.
Nursing homes no longer subject to independent pharmacist regulation
By
McKnight's Staff
Apr 03, 2012
Federal regulators have reversed a controversial proposal that would have required facilities to hire consultant pharmacists to review residents’ medications.
Memo clarifies April 1 MDS 3.0 changes
By
McKnight's Staff
Apr 03, 2012
Failure to keep up with the changes could be costly for providers, experts warned, so CMS released a memo to clarify a number of questions from skilled nursing facility operators.
CMS awards 26 states with Medicaid audit contracts
By
McKnight's Staff
Apr 02, 2012
Contracts for Medicaid recovery audit contractors (RACs) have been awarded to 26 states, government officials have announced.
Antipsychotics boost heart attack risk in seniors, study finds
By
McKnight's Staff
Mar 30, 2012
Elderly dementia patients who are prescribed antipsychotics face a greater risk for a heart attack within the first month of treatment, a new study found.
Nursing home resident advocates applaud CMS antipsychotic initiative
By
McKnight's Staff
Mar 29, 2012
Nursing home resident advocates applauded federal action on the issue of using antipsychotics to treat elderly nursing home residents with dementia.
Established nursing home business practices will soon change, expert warns
By
McKnight's Staff
Mar 26, 2012
Market and policy changes will force skilled care operators to dramatically change their business practices, an industry analyst said Monday. Successful operators will need to demonstrate quality care,...
Sharpen Medicaid Integrity auditing, OIG advises
By
McKnight's Staff
Mar 23, 2012
Medicaid Integrity Contractors failed to find overpayments in the majority of their audits for the first half of 2010, leading the Office of Inspector General to recommend that the Centers for Medicare...