Those who commit Medicare fraud and abuse are facing a new foe: better technology.
CMS official: Medicaid block grants are not a viable option for state budgets
Jun 16, 2011
A top Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services official said this week that turning Medicaid into a block grant program is not a viable solution for easing state budget woes.
CMS actuary voices concern over healthcare reform measures
Jun 15, 2011
In a Society of Actuaries speech on Monday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ chief actuary accused legislators and policymakers of ignoring his warnings about the sustainability of the...
LeadingAge: Don’t dash through MDS 3.0 assessments
Jun 14, 2011
In a memo to its provider members, LeadingAge has warned that overuse of dash marks in MDS 3.0 assessments could result in the lowering of a facility’s quality measure resident sample.
New studies, CMS rules attempt to lower rehospitalizations for seniors
Jun 14, 2011
The rate of rehospitalization of seniors within 30 days of discharge from a nursing home has surged in the last several years, to an estimated annual cost of more than $17 billion.
State Medicaid programs can extend financial protections to same-sex spouses in nursing homes
Jun 13, 2011
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has sent a letter to state Medicaid programs clarifying the ability to offer same-sex couples the same protections opposite-sex couples receive when one partner...
Nursing homes want IRS guidance on accountable care organization participation
Jun 10, 2011
Nursing home and hospital provider groups have asked the Internal Revenue Service for clarification and guidance regarding the participation of nonprofit providers in accountable care organizations. Many...
CMS long-term care conference call to feature MDS 3.0 update, updates on other issues
Jun 09, 2011
Federal regulators will hold their monthly national conference call for long-term care providers at 2 p.m. Eastern on Thursday. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Skilled Nursing Facility/Long...
Provider groups support ACO concept, oppose implementation regulations
Jun 08, 2011
With the comment period on accountable care organizations to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid now over, stakeholders seem to be clear with one voice: While they agree with the concept of ACOs, they...
New ACA demonstration project will coordinate care for Medicare beneficiaries
Jun 07, 2011
A new Affordable Care Act initiative will spend $42 million over three years for a project that will coordinate care for Medicare patients, the Department of Health and Human Services announced Monday.