In the past, any increase in Medicare payments for nursing homes would have been cause for celebration, but there were more thorns for the sector hidden in this year’s payment rule from the Centers...
First facility assessment deadline leaves gaping questions about surveyor intent
By
Kimberly Marselas
Aug 12, 2024
After three months of preparation, skilled nursing providers across the country were required late last week to complete their first enhanced facility assessment.
New SNF payment rule met with ‘disgust,’ complaints of ‘overreach’
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 31, 2024
Critics wasted little time expressing their displeasure with the government’s final nursing home payment rule for fiscal 2025 after it was released late Wednesday afternoon.
Docs, therapists to see pay cut but caregivers score in ’25 physician pay rule
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jul 10, 2024
Doctors, therapists and others billing under the physician fee schedule would see an average 2.93% reduction in Medicare pay next year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services proposed Wednesday.
Advocates work behind scenes to stop, reshape staffing rule as finalization nears
By
Kimberly Marselas
Apr 16, 2024
Several nursing home advocacy organizations have met with the White House Office of Management and Budget in recent days, angling to change the proposed minimum staffing rule that could be issued in final...
CMS official to providers: Help us capture data to drive Medicare Advantage reforms
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 07, 2024
The increased use of health data and providers’ own voices should be considered among the best tools available for achieving change in a system that increasingly relies on Medicaid Advantage and other...
First NHSN webinar on COVID-19 vaccination reporting changes is Monday
By
James M. Berklan
Sep 22, 2023
The national reporting system for nursing homes to submit COVID-19 vaccination data has set webinar dates to review important changes to the system.
LTCH closures send more patients to nursing homes, but are they ready?
By
Kimberly Marselas
Nov 22, 2023
Shifting payment policies have decreased Medicare spending on patients requiring mechanical ventilation, but they also have led to the closure of many long-term care hospitals and have driven more patients...
CMS 5-claim audits so far a ‘debacle’
By
Jessica R. Towhey
Aug 22, 2023
A new federal review process designed to lower the rate of improper government payments is sending provider staffs scurrying to justify their coding.
It’s time to prep comments to CMS on its proposed nursing home staffing mandate
By
James M. Berklan
Sep 01, 2023
Operators can now get started on submitting comments critiquing the administrations proposed nursing home minimum staffing mandate.