Free COVID tests now available to all aging services providers
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jan 09, 2023
Nursing homes and other aging services providers across the US can now access free COVID-19 test kits through an expanded partnership between the Department of Health and Human Services and LeadingAge.
States get needed nurse aide waiver relief but workers’ fates uncertain
By
Kimberly Marselas
Oct 07, 2022
Skilled nursing providers in at least 15 states averted the loss of thousands of frontline workers Thursday, when the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services let expire a blanket national waiver allowing...
Claims audit will affect every nursing home starting June 5
By
Kimberly Marselas
May 30, 2023
Every skilled nursing facility in the US will be subject to a five-claim audit starting the week of June 5 as regulators try to better assess and root out improper payments.
CMS completes minimum staffing study; targeting ‘onerous’ MA authorizations
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jan 25, 2023
Two proposed rules should help patients improve their Medicare Advantage plan selections while standardizing expectations for skilled nursing and other healthcare providers, federal officials reiterated...
Lawmakers pushing CMS to ease Medicare Advantage prior authorizations
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jun 26, 2023
Close to 300 members of Congress are urging federal regulators to do more to reduce burdensome Medicare Advantage requirements that can slow delivery of care to nursing home and other patients.
CMS provides first look at shorter, Risk-Based Survey process
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 04, 2024
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Wednesday revealed initial information about a potential “Risk-Based Survey” option that could be available to some of the nation’s best performing...
Key senator pressures state survey agencies over staffing-related delays
By
Kimberly Marselas
Sep 13, 2022
Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (D-PA) is demanding state survey agencies report information on extensive delays, staffing shortages and other challenges in the nursing home inspection process.
Watchdog urges Medicaid to bolster overpayment collection efforts
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jun 30, 2023
The Government Accountability Office is urging Medicaid overseers to do a better job of recouping overpayments, citing their allegedly lenient oversight of state auditing efforts.
Medicare Advantage plan settles upcoding allegations for $22.5M
By
Kimberly Marselas
Aug 02, 2023
A Medicare Advantage plan will pay $22.5 million to settle allegations that it systematically reviewed patient charts to tack on additional charges before submitting claims to Medicare, federal law enforcement...
BREAKING: CMS to make shared nursing home ownership, performance clearer for consumers
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jun 28, 2023
Federal regulators will begin posting nursing home affiliations on Nursing Home Care Compare in an attempt to make it easier for consumers to see related facilities and understand their overall performance,...