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Department Of Health And Human Services

Long-term care stakeholders submit quality measures performance report to HHS

February 07, 2012

As required by the Affordable Care Act, the National Quality Forum convened the Measure Applications Partnership (MAP) to develop a coordinated performance measurement approach across PAC and LTC settings.

Catholic nursing homes will be affected by HHS contraception regulation

February 02, 2012

About 500 Catholic nursing homes in the United States will be affected by a regulation requiring employer health insurance plans to cover contraceptive services.

ALFA: Alzheimer's taskforce ignores assisted living options

January 26, 2012

In a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services, the Assisted Living Federation of America said it was "dismayed to see the lack of acknowledgment of the role assisted living has in caring for individuals with Alzheimer's disease," in the HHS taskforce plan released Jan. 9.

Alzheimer's experts to finalize Obama administration taskforce plan

January 17, 2012

A panel of Alzheimer's experts is kicking off a two-day meeting in Washington today to formalize an Obama administration goal of developing effective ways to treat and prevent Alzheimer's by 2025.

HHS: New electronic claims regulation could save providers time, money

January 06, 2012

The Department of Health and Human Services announced new standards Thursday that it said would streamline the electronic health claims process and save providers and government health plans $4.5 billion in administrative costs.

House passes 2011 budget proposal

April 15, 2011

In a 260-167 vote Thursday, the House of Representatives approved the FY 2011 budget, which President Barack Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) brokered last week. The budget passed with bipartisan support.

Proposed state Medicaid cuts cause backlash from nursing home operators, wouldn't close budget gap anyway, top official says

March 28, 2011

Medicaid cost-cutting strategies the Department of Health and Human Services has suggested to states will not be enough to close $175 billion in cumulative budget gaps—and that's the way it should be. And that's according to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, based on remarks she made Friday.

HHS unveils new national quality improvement strategy

March 22, 2011

The Department of Health and Human Services on Monday rolled out its "National Strategy for Quality Improvements in Health Care," a "first-ever" plan to guide quality improvement measures at local, state and national levels. On Thursday, the 5th Annual McKnight's Online Expo will feature a webcast discussing changing quality improvement initiatives.

President signs Medicare extenders bill, Congress passes bill to create HHS national Alzheimer's project

December 17, 2010

President Obama this week signed a measure that will extend the therapy caps exceptions process through 2011, restore the implementation date of RUG-IV to 2010 and delay a Medicare payment cut to doctors.

HHS holds summit on healthcare reform's impact on quality

October 05, 2010

The Department of Health and Human Services Monday hosted the National Summit on Health Care Quality and Value in Washington, D.C.

U.S. district court invalidates federal calculation for hospice care reimbursement

June 15, 2010

The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma recently ruled that a federal regulation capping Medicare payments for hospice care providers is invalid. That echoes a Texas district court ruling handed down earlier this year.

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.

National long-term care resource center for GLBT elders to be established

February 18, 2010

Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has disclosed an award of $900,000 for the first-ever national resource center to assist gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender seniors in planning for their long-term care needs.

Database of disciplined nurses still off-limits to nursing homes and hospitals

September 04, 2009

The Department of Health and Human Services over the years has kept hidden from nursing homes and hospitals a database of nurses and other healthcare workers who have been disciplined by state licensing boards, according to a radio news outlet.

HIPAA-covered healthcare providers must notify individuals of information breaches under new rule

August 24, 2009

The Department of Health and Human Services has released an interim rule regarding healthcare information privacy breaches.

HHS awards more than $13 million to help lessen nursing shortage

August 13, 2009

The Department of Health and Human Services Wednesday said it is has released $13.4 million in stimulus funding to help boost the nursing workforce in the United States.

Appeals court denies Medicare reimbursement to nursing homes for bad debt

August 06, 2009

An appeals court has upheld a decision denying Medicare reimbursement to 21 skilled nursing facilities for bad debt related to services rendered to dual-eligible beneficiaries, according to news reports.

Senate committee may vote today on bill to increase HHS funding

July 28, 2009

A Senate Appropriations subcommittee could vote today to approve nearly $74 billion in discretionary funding for Department of Health and Human Services programs in fiscal year 2010.

Survey: Sixteen percent of public health workers likely not to report to work if pandemic hits

July 27, 2009

In the event of a pandemic flu emergency, about one out of every six public health workers will probably not report to work, according to a new survey.

House committee approves funds to fight nursing workforce shortage, hospital-acquired infections

July 21, 2009

The House Appropriations Committee has approved a spending budget for fiscal year 2010 for the Department of Health and Human Services. Funding has been allocated to relieve the healthcare workforce shortage and reduce hospital-acquired infections (HAIs).

Greenlee confirmed as head of aging in HHS

July 06, 2009

The U.S. Senate has confirmed Kathy Greenlee, a strong proponent of home- and community-based services, as the next assistant secretary of aging in the Department of Health and Human Services.

HHS rescinds, delays four restrictive Medicaid provisions

June 30, 2009

The Department of Health and Human Services has removed or postponed implementation of four unpopular Medicaid regulations that were set to take effect on Wednesday. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius made the announcement Monday.