Government saved $17.6 billion in 2011 due to fraud prevention programs
Nov 16, 2011
A government crackdown on improper payments in federal programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, cut wasteful payments by $17.6 billion in 2011, the Office of Management and Budget reported Tuesday. The...
GAO: Congress should increase federal Medicaid matching rates
Nov 15, 2011
Congress should consider temporarily increasing Medicaid’s Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) formula to help beleaguered state budgets, a new report suggests.
Former government official warns against Medicaid cuts
Nov 14, 2011
At a forum last week, a former Health and Human Services official said that cutting Medicaid during an economic downturn is unwise. According to published reports, Tim Westmoreland compared Medicaid cuts...
CMS responds to state Medicaid directors’ calls for help
Nov 11, 2011
State Medicaid directors should refrain from making short-term cuts, and instead focus on long-term changes in partnership with the federal government, the head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services...
How to make your nursing facility RAC-ready
By
Bryan Baird
Nov 08, 2011
As skilled nursing facilities adjust to the changes to Medicare that arrived early last month, they must be ready for Recovery Audit Contractors. RACs are independent auditors for the government that are...
National Medicare RAC Summit to uncover answers on Monday
Nov 04, 2011
The 6th National Medicare RAC Summit will be held Monday in Washington. The pre-conference Recovery Audit Contracting “boot camp” will run from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and delve into industry best...
Letter: State Medicaid directors want more help from feds
Nov 03, 2011
State Medicaid directors want more help from the federal government in implementing expanded Medicaid eligibility requirements, according to a letter sent to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid.
Cutting Medicaid by 5% would spur loss of nursing home jobs, economists say
Oct 28, 2011
Cutting the state-federal Medicaid program by 5% could result in the loss of thousands of jobs in nursing homes and other healthcare-related industries, a new report finds.
Getting proactive on hospital readmissions
By
Ben Adkins
Oct 21, 2011
Long-term care providers have plenty at stake when it comes to the issue of hospital readmissions, and working to reduce them. As debt ceiling talks and federal budget woes raise the specter of additional...
Group advocates for single, coordinated program for dual eligibles
Oct 18, 2011
A leading Medicaid trade group told members of the so-called debt-reduction “super-committee” that shifting dual eligibles — individuals who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid benefits...