The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission could be getting closer to formally recommending more uniform payments to skilled nursing facilities and inpatient rehabilitation facilities.
OIG finds ‘observation stay’ problems, calls for reform
By
James M. Berklan
Sep 01, 2013
Long-term care groups are among those hailing a federal study that raises critical questions about hospitals’ apparent over-use of “observation stay” designations for patients.
MedPAC calls for payment reforms to come even earlier
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 06, 2017
Federal lawmakers’ advisory panel for Medicare made it official in its report to Congress in June: It recommends implementation of a unified post-acute payment system beginning in 2021 — three...
MedPAC: No SNF pay raise
By
James M. Berklan
Jan 04, 2019
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission is attempting again to stiff nursing homes while also eyeing quick action on payment system reform.
No funds for SNF programs
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 01, 2011
Officials say that some much-ballyhooed programs in the 2010 healthcare reform law aimed at nursing homes could go without funding.
Report: States headed for Medicaid funding upheaval
By
James M. Berklan
Aug 01, 2012
Regardless of whether states choose to expand Medicaid under healthcare reform law, they are facing huge fiscal crisis conditions, largely due to rising healthcare costs and government pension obligations,...
Case for bundled pay made
By
James M. Berklan
Jun 01, 2013
Large-scale bundling of government reimbursements is needed, say researchers who have studied the topic. Post-acute care was the fastest growing major healthcare spending category for government programs...
Feds limit Medicaid picks
By
James M. Berklan
Jan 02, 2013
While the administration has been flexible about numerous aspects of Medicaid expansion called for in the healthcare reform law, there is at least one thing that is not negotiable: States will not get...
Poll: IPAB best of options
By
James M. Berklan
Aug 02, 2011
In contrast to providers’ preference, more Americans want an independent payment board to make decisions about Medicare spending, rather than leaving the current system as is.
Budget offers pay concerns
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 08, 2018
Even though a new, unified payment system has been discussed for several years, the mere mention of it in President Trump’s budget proposal jolted observers in February. The budget specifically said...