Former top Medicare official scalds long-term care leaders
By
James M. Berklan
Sep 26, 2012
Tom Scully wondered privately before his keynote address at a seniors housing and care conference last week why he was being asked to speak. Afterwards, long-term care executives in the audience were probably...
Another revenue stream threatened?
By
John O'Connor
Dec 05, 2014
For just about every skilled nursing facility out there, this is probably a good time to break out the flop sweat. That is, unless the prospect of being culled from one of your most vital revenue streams...
Providers suffering Medicare appeals backlog — at their own hand?
By
James M. Berklan
Apr 29, 2015
If providers were charged a fee for challenging Recovery Audit Contractor findings, there wouldn’t be the current overwhelming backlog of Medicare appeals, says the administration — and, surprise,...
Unsettled business
By
James M. Berklan
Sep 20, 2011
The opening of the American Health Care Association’s annual meeting took on a familiar air Monday afternoon in Las Vegas: A lot of proud retrospectives of a year gone by, prerequisite hand-wringing...
Open up and say ‘Aha’
By
James M. Berklan
Dec 01, 2010
OK, raise your hand if you were surprised to learn that physicians averted a major Medicare pay cut that was supposed to take place this week. Didn’t think so. I wasn’t either.
Sorry, that’s not the full recipe for fixing nursing homes
By
John O'Connor
Jun 04, 2012
The Atlantic’s recent article called ‘How to Fix Nursing Homes’ is a well-written and thoughtful piece. My only gripe is that the headline is a bit of a reach.
Your money’s no good here
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 01, 2017
I’d say the thing we write about most often in this line of work is payment issues. As a long-term care provider, you are eternally under pressure with whether there will be enough to pay for everything.
CLASS Act math
By
Liza Berger
Dec 01, 2009
If you are confused about the financial implications of the highly publicized CLASS Act, you are not alone. If it’s supposed to be solvent and actuarially sound over the long term, why is the program...
Berwick’s remarks offer insight into his healthcare worldview
By
Liza Berger
Nov 19, 2010
Dr. Donald Berwick of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services may not have said enough to satisfy some members of the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday, but he arguably presented some pretty defined...