Is the doctor in? Improve nursing homes with one easy stroke
By
Kenneth Lehmann
Apr 14, 2021
Many nursing home COVID-19 patients would have benefitted from daily, reimbursed-for physician visits in their skilled nursing facilities, but they were not entitled to them. With an epic crisis...
Danger ahead?: SNFs face potentially steep cuts as CMS considers changes to PDPM, VBP program
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 12, 2021
A recalibration to the Patient Driven Payment Model could have troubling payment implications for skilled nursing providers who are still trying to manage a difficult operating environment caused by the...
CMS proposes 1.3% pay increase — with plenty of strings attached
By
Kimberly Marselas
Danielle Brown
Apr 09, 2021
A proposal that would boost Medicare payments to skilled nursing providers by 1.3% next fiscal year also could trigger additional reporting requirements and increase the potential for penalties.
Up next: CMS moves to mandate staff vaccination reporting during COVID-19
By
Danielle Brown
Apr 09, 2021
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is proposing a new quality measure for skilled nursing facilities to track COVID-19 vaccination coverage among its workers.
‘Back to normal’ already here for nursing homes
By
James M. Berklan
Apr 09, 2021
Skilled nursing operators pondering when things would get back to normal need no longer wonder. In many ways, you’re already there.
BREAKING: Nursing homes slated for 1.3% — or $444 million — Medicare pay hike for 2022
By
James M. Berklan
Apr 08, 2021
Nursing homes would receive a 1.3% net Medicare increase for fiscal year 2022 under a proposal announced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services late Thursday afternoon.
NYT: You are as much of the problem as the Five-Star system
By
Steven Littlehale
Apr 02, 2021
A recent New York Times article about nursing homes is shameful, lazy journalism. Coupled with the need to sell advertising space, it purposefully perpetuates misunderstandings about nursing homes, caregivers...
CMS approves contactless tracking in Kentucky nursing homes
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 18, 2021
The agency has approved a $6.7 million proposal by Trilogy Health Services for a smart-entry screening platform to be implemented across 285 Kentucky Medicare-certified nursing homes.
CMS missing opportunities to enforce staffing rules, watchdog warns
By
Danielle Brown
Mar 12, 2021
A watchdog agency is calling for a greater emphasis on staffing ratios during future nursing home surveys, saying the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is missing opportunities to use information...
CMS opens visitation to nursing homes after year of isolation
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 11, 2021
“Facilities should allow responsible indoor visitation at all times” — no matter the vaccination status of resident or visitor, the agency now says. Its action follows the remarkable, apparent...