Better anti-fraud efforts are not appeasing lawmakers
By
Tim Mullaney
Aug 01, 2014
Long-term care facilities and other Medicare providers increasingly have seen reimbursements influenced by the government’s Fraud Prevention System, an official recently told a Congressional panel.
CMS finalizes 1.4% increase for hospices
By
Stephanie H. Kim
Aug 05, 2014
Hospices can expect an estimated 1.4% increase in their payments for the fiscal year 2015, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced Monday.
Looking at dementia beyond drugs and disease
By
G. Allen Power, M.D.
Aug 01, 2014
The emerging literature on “nonpharmacological interventions” has not succeeded in providing long-term solutions for many people, such that expressions of need continue to recur on a regular...
Medicare SNF rate finalized, reimbursements to increase by $750 million next year
By
Tim Mullaney
Aug 01, 2014
Medicare skilled nursing facility reimbursements will increase by $750 million next year under a final payment rule announced Thursday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Increased ‘bed taxes’ on nursing facilities warrant stricter federal oversight, report states
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 30, 2014
States have been increasingly taxing skilled nursing facilities and other healthcare providers to fund Medicaid in recent years, and federal authorities should look more closely at this trend, according...
CMS changes mind on hospice drugs
By
Elizabeth Newman
Jul 23, 2014
The Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services has revised guidance on authorization of hospice drugs for those under Medicare Advantage and Part D plans, according to a new memo.
Long-term care facilities refusing free CMS resource on dementia, nurses association says
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 17, 2014
Some nursing homes are not accepting a dementia training resource sent by the government, even though it is free and recommended, according to the American Association for Long-Term Care Nursing.
Congressional lawmakers grill top ALJ on appeals backlog, say too many providers are being put out of...
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 11, 2014
Efforts to root out Medicare fraud have put far too many above-board providers in auditors’ crosshairs, leading to a staggering backlog of appeals that has no easy fix, Congressional lawmakers and...
CMS updates manual to reflect F-Tag guidance dating back to 2003
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 08, 2014
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has revised the manual that long-term care facility surveyors refer to, updating interpretive guidelines related to F-Tags.
CMS announces Medicare appeals without administrative law judge hearings
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 07, 2014
Long-term care providers will be able to appeal certain Medicare claims decisions without going through an administrative law judge hearing, the Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA) announced...