CMS puts surveyors on alert for those ‘gaming’ system
By
James M. Berklan
Oct 01, 2013
Federal regulators say surveyors need to prevent providers from possibly “gaming” the system when it comes to the timing of surveys and sales.
Senators urge tougher LTC survey process
By
James M. Berklan
May 01, 2014
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said it plans to focus more on quality improvement initiatives rather than stricter surveys, but that didn’t stop a pair of veteran U.S. senators from...
Five-Star makes complaints against nursing homes even more serious
By
Tyler J. Smith
Jul 06, 2009
Nursing homes have a difficult enough time contending with the survey and certification system. Now that the Five-Star Quality Rating System has begun, they have to work even harder to protect themselves...
Regulators consider adding satisfaction surveys to nursing home rating system
Jul 10, 2009
Federal regulators are meeting with nursing home operators and other key stakeholders today to discuss ways in which resident and family satisfaction surveys might be factored into the new facility Five-Star...
Medicare auditors becoming more active, denying more claims, survey shows
By
McKnight's Staff
Aug 29, 2012
Requests for medical records by Medicare’s fraud-detecting recovery audit contractors (RACs) jumped sharply from the first- to the second-quarter of fiscal year 2012, a new survey reveals.
CMS issues QIS implementation priority order for states
Aug 24, 2009
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued guidance for states that currently are not implementing the Quality Indicator Survey.
Self-reported quality data from special focus facilities is unreliable, report suggests
Dec 23, 2011
Self-reported quality and staffing information from nursing homes categorized as Special Focus Facilities (SFFs) is unreliable and should not be published on Medicare’s Nursing Home Compare website,...
Nursing homes will be subject to escrow for all civil monetary penalties, CMS announces
By
Tim Mullaney
Sep 05, 2013
Nursing homes facing a civil monetary penalty due to any type of deficiency will be subject to escrow and entitled to request an independent informal dispute resolution process, according to a newly issued...
States can designate more nursing homes in urgent need of quality improvement, government says
By
Tim Mullaney
Apr 22, 2014
The federal government is reactivating the special focus facility program for nursing homes with quality issues, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced. The program was minimized due...
Reducing readmissions should be No. 1 priority for reducing healthcare costs, quality experts say
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 10, 2014
Reducing readmissions would have the most significant impact in bringing down U.S. healthcare costs, according to a survey of health quality experts.