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Centers For Medicare & Medicaid Services

Government offers funds to help switch seniors from terminated Fox Insurance plan

March 17, 2010

Some states will receive additional funding for insurance information programs for seniors after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services terminated a federal contract with Fox Insurance Company.

Apply outcomes measurement to therapy services

Bill Goulding March 09, 2010

Outcomes measurement is a powerful tool that can help demonstrate the quality of therapy your long-term care facility is providing. Why not give it a try?

CMS names Tavenner principal deputy administrator

February 18, 2010

The American Health Care Association Wednesday praised the appointment of Marilyn Tavenner as principal deputy administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Rumors swirl about possible nominees to head Medicare, Medicaid office

January 28, 2010

In the hours leading up to President Obama's first State of the Union address Wednesday night, Washington was abuzz with a rumor that the president would soon unveil his nominee for the top job at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Federal regulators taking a closer look at hospitals' admitting practices

December 09, 2009

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has notified hospitals that they are being closely watched over concerns about how they have decided whether to admit certain individuals or refer them elsewhere.

CMS Open Door Forum today to focus on MDS 3.0, RAI manual

December 08, 2009

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is gearing up to educate nursing home providers about the coming changes with MDS 3.0. An Open Door Forum, which will cover MDS 3.0 and MDS training, among other topics, is scheduled for this afternoon.

CNAs urge Congress to reconsider Medicare cuts

September 21, 2009

Members of a national association of nursing home certified nurse aides called on Congress last week to reconsider cutting billions of dollars in Medicare payments to nursing homes.

CMS issues new rule on recoupment of Medicare funds

September 18, 2009

The federal government no longer will be able to recoup Medicare funds from healthcare providers during the first stage of an appeal of an overpayment finding, according to a rule published in the Federal Register on Wednesday.

New MDS flu guidance for nursing facilities

September 11, 2009

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued new MDS coding guidance for skilled nursing facilities for the upcoming flu season.

CMS proposes covering HIV screening for Medicare beneficiaries

September 11, 2009

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services this week proposed covering voluntary HIV screening for Medicare beneficiaries at increased risk of infection and those who are pregnant.

Medicare to pay same rate for administering H1N1 vaccine as seasonal flu vaccine

September 08, 2009

Healthcare providers will receive the same Medicare payment rate to administer the H1N1 flu vaccine as the seasonal flu vaccine, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said.

CMS names AHCA's Fitzler to new care transitions expert panel

September 08, 2009

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has selected Sandra Fitzler, senior director of clinical services at the American Health Care Association, to serve on the newly created Care Transitions Measure Development Technical Expert Panel (TEP).

CMS remains positive about Five-Star rating system despite criticism from attorneys general

September 03, 2009

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services responded to a letter from 31 of the nation's state attorneys general who criticized the nursing home Five-Star Quality Rating System. In a statement, the agency expressed support for the highly controversial rating system for nursing homes, according to a news report.

State attorneys general urge suspension and revision of Five-Star rating system

August 28, 2009

A total of 31 state attorneys general sent a letter to Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. In the letter, they called for the suspension and revision of the Five-Star Quality Rating System.

New CMS rule to eliminate section of MDS, revise RUGs

August 25, 2009

A controversial new rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid rule will recalibrate Medicare case mixes under the Resource Utilization Group (RUG) system. Specifically, it will eliminate a section of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) and change the RUG classification process for short-stay residents.

CMS issues QIS implementation priority order for states

August 24, 2009

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued guidance for states that currently are not implementing the Quality Indicator Survey.

New CMS letter offers revised infection control guidance for F-441

August 19, 2009

Information about implementing an infection prevention program, recognizing and containing outbreaks, and proper handling of linens are all part of revised guidance for F-tag 441.

Vacancy at top of CMS concerns lawmakers, newspaper reports

August 19, 2009

As lawmakers debate Medicare and Medicaid changes, the absence of a leader to oversee these programs has become more glaring.

CMS: Demonstration project to reward nursing homes that provide high-quality care

August 18, 2009

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Monday disclosed positive results from three-so-called pay-for-performance demonstrations at hospitals and physician practices. Now it wants to see if financial incentives also will help nursing homes improve or deliver high-quality care.

Premium may rise next year for Medicare Part D beneficiaries who receive low-income subsidy

August 14, 2009

The Medicare Part D premium may rise in 2010 among some Part D beneficiaries who receive the low-income subsidy (LIS) benefit, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said Thursday.

Durable medical equipment rebidding process to start in October

August 05, 2009

The 60-day supplier bidding period for the Medicare Competitive Bidding Program for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) will begin in late October, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said Monday.

Long-term care associations to battle Medicare cuts during congressional recess

August 04, 2009

Congress may take a recess this month, but the long-term care community isn't planning on it. Instead, the associations will be working to urge lawmakers not to cut millions in Medicare payments from nursing homes as part of healthcare reform.

Move to improve residents' quality of life a welcome development

Nancy L. Gorman August 04, 2009

Enhanced standards from The Joint Commission complement new guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Both emphasize improving the quality of life of long-term care residents.

CMS to cut Medicare funding to skilled nursing facilities by $360 million in fiscal year 2010

August 03, 2009

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services late Friday issued a rule that will cut $360 million in Medicare payments to skilled nursing facilities for fiscal year 2010.

UPDATED New CMS guidance consolidates five infection control F-tags into one

July 23, 2009

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently released final changes regarding certain guidance governing infection control in long-term care facilities. The formal effective date for the revised guidance is Sept. 30, 2009.

Regulators consider adding satisfaction surveys to nursing home rating system

July 10, 2009

Federal regulators are meeting with nursing home operators and other key stakeholders today to discuss ways in which resident and family satisfaction surveys might be factored into the new facility Five-Star Quality Rating System.

Five-Star makes complaints against nursing homes even more serious

Tyler J. Smith July 06, 2009

Nursing homes have a difficult enough time contending with the survey and certification system. Now that the Five-Star Quality Rating System has begun, they have to work even harder to protect themselves against the faulty survey process.

Civil Money Penalty funds don't have to go directly to nursing homes, CMS notes

June 26, 2009

A recently released memo from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services clarifies that Civil Money Penalty (CMP) funds are not just for nursing homes.

CMS proposes granting states more flexibility with Medicaid HCBS waivers

June 23, 2009

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services plans to propose a rule allowing states to combine waivers for three separate home and community-based services target populations. This continues the federal government's push to expand Medicaid funding to home- and community-based care.