Government asks for suggestions on how to reduce Medicare appeals backlog
By
Tim Mullaney
Nov 05, 2014
The federal government is asking the public to suggest ways of reducing Medicare appeals and cutting down on a backlog at the administrative law judge level. The request for information was filed by the...
CMS should publicly push Congress to reform therapy payment system, long-term care provider association...
By
Tim Mullaney
Sep 09, 2014
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should openly urge Congress to change the way therapy services are reimbursed, the nation’s largest long-term care provider association stated in recent...
Federal judge blocks new RAC contracts
By
Tim Mullaney
Sep 04, 2014
Adding to the ongoing controversy around Medicare’s Recovery Audit Contractor program, a judge has ruled that the government cannot award new RAC contracts until disputed payment terms are resolved.
High-profile consumer advocacy group sues over broken Medicare appeals process
By
Tim Mullaney
Aug 27, 2014
Long-term care providers have been outspoken in their criticism of the Medicare appeals process, which has all but ground to a halt. Now a class-action lawsuit says Medicare beneficiaries also are being...
Increase managed care transparency, long-term care providers urge Senators
By
Tim Mullaney
Aug 18, 2014
The government should collect and release more claims information from managed care plans, the nation’s largest long-term care provider association stated in a recent letter to leaders of the Senate...
Federal court dismisses whistleblower lawsuit over Omnicare, PharMerica withholding generic drugs
By
Tim Mullaney
Aug 18, 2014
A federal court in New York has tossed a whistleblower lawsuit charging that large long-term care pharmacies violated the False Claims Act by failing to dispense requested generic drugs.
Federal government needs to boost Medicaid managed care oversight, GAO says
By
Tim Mullaney
Jun 20, 2014
The government’s oversight of Medicaid managed care organizations is not strong, even though these entities cover about 50 million people and are growing rapidly, according to a recently released...
Providers could be slapped with monetary penalties for slow response to document requests under OIG proposal
By
Tim Mullaney
May 13, 2014
Long-term care providers are facing an expanded list of infractions that could trigger civil monetary penalties, including slow response to document requests. The proposed regulation from the Department...
Cash-strapped feds to cut back Medicare oversight this year, OIG official says
By
Tim Mullaney
May 05, 2014
One of nursing homes’ most vigilant government watchdogs plans to dramatically curb its activities this year, a federal official has told the House Ways & Means Subcommittee on Health. The Department...
Shortchanging the Older Americans Act has led to unnecessary nursing home placements, senators say
By
Tim Mullaney
Apr 17, 2014
Chronic underfunding of the Older Americans Act is leading to unnecessary long-term care facility admissions, Sen. Bernard Sanders (I-VT) and 26 of his Democratic colleagues in the Senate said in a recent...