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McKnight's Online Expo, a valuable learning opportunity
Liza Berger March 11, 2010
Hungry for information? We thought so. That's why we're offering our fourth annual online expo later this month.
Court: Medicare hospice provider cap calculated improperly
March 04, 2010
The federal Medicare hospice provider cap is calculated in a way that is "arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, and unlawful," a federal court recently ruled.
McKnight's to hold fourth annual Online Expo next month
February 08, 2010
Healthcare reform has been a big topic this year. But not everything demands reform. That could certainly be said for the McKnight's Online Expo.
From MedPAC to IMAC: Obama would hand Medicare pay rate decisions to new independent council
July 17, 2009
The Obama administration has begun the process of shifting control over Medicare rate adjustments for nursing homes, hospice and other providers away from Congress and toward a new, five-member independent executive agency, according to recent reports.
CMS notifies providers of Medicare scam at doctors' offices
June 19, 2009
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services alerted healthcare providers Thursday to a scam involving fake Medicare faxes to physician offices.
Obama opens the door for drastic new Medicare, Medicaid cuts for nursing homes
June 16, 2009
Frayed nerves were showing in the provider community Monday after President Obama announced his intentions Saturday to cut $313 billion more from Medicare and Medicaid over the next 10 years. The proposed new cuts are in addition to the $635 billion in Medicare and Medicaid spending reductions already included in the president's FY 2010 budget, and include billions in potential payment reductions.
Study suggests reducing number of Medicare Part D plans could save beneficiaries money
June 09, 2009
The Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit is too confusing for seniors, often leading beneficiaries to choose unnecessarily expensive plans, according to a new study. What's more, seniors may not even realize they're overpaying.
Obama endorses letting Medicare Payment Advisory Commission set payment rates
June 08, 2009
The move to empower the Medicare Payment Advisory Committee to enact its own policy proposals gained significant traction last week when President Obama said in a letter to lawmakers that he would be open to the idea as a way to reduce healthcare costs.
Potentially inappropriate nursing home payments spur increased Medicare Part A, Part D oversight
June 08, 2009
Tens of millions of dollars were likely inappropriately paid to skilled nursing facilities through the Medicare Part D prescription drug program in 2006, according to a recently released report from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General.
Nursing home lobbyists urge lawmakers for change but don't expect long-term care reform
June 05, 2009
Hundreds of nursing home owners and operators blitzed congressional buildings in Washington on Thursday, pressing lawmakers for better Medicare payments, a halt to post-acute payment bundling system talk and other improvements. But one thing they weren't expecting to make much progress on was long-term care reform.
Kohl introduces bill to increase long-term care insurance use but cautions about over-reliance
June 05, 2009
Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI) has introduced legislation that would encourage the purchase of long-term care insurance. But he also emphasized during a Wednesday hearing of the Special Committee on Aging, which he chairs, that long-term care insurance still may not be for everyone and "should not be considered as a cure-all."
SEIU recommends changes to long-term care as way to reduce healthcare costs
June 03, 2009
When President Obama announced May 11 that six leading healthcare industry groups would band together to reduce healthcare costs by $2 trillion over the next decade, many were skeptical. On Monday, however, those groups submitted their proposals--and one has suggested changing care delivery in the long-term care field.
Nursing home advocates converging on U.S. lawmakers to demand better Medicare reimbursement
May 29, 2009
More than 300 nursing home owners and operators are expected to meet in Washington on Wednesday and Thursday to try to persuade lawmakers to be generous with Medicare funding. The Obama budget proposal for fiscal 2010, combined with a standard marketbasket update, would leave providers about $330 million, or about $17 per resident day, below this year's payment levels. Providers will be taking their cues from top lobbyists at the American Health Care Association's spring conference before storming Capitol Hill for visits with their Congressmen and Senators. "Top policy issues will be Medicare funding, the proposals for bundling of post-acute payments, and defeating arbitration legislation that would prohibit the use of pre-dispute arbitration agreements," an AHCA spokeswoman said.
Rockefeller introduces bill making MedPAC independent executive branch agency
May 27, 2009
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) is a legislative entity whose purpose is to advise Congress on matters of Medicare reimbursement rates and coverage policies. Now, one senator has introduced legislation that would transfer the agency to the executive branch and give it more political muscle.
Quality improvement program for Missouri nursing homes leads to cost savings, analysis finds
May 14, 2009
Nursing homes and long-term care facilities in Missouri showed significant care improvements and cost savings over the last three years as a result of the Quality Improvement Program of Missouri (QIPMO), according to an analysis of the program.
New injection of concern: Medicare Part A to become insolvent in 8 years, report says
May 13, 2009
If current trends continue, the Medicare Part A trust fund will become insolvent in 2017, according to the new annual report from the Social Security and Medicare Boards of Trustees issued Tuesday.
Nursing home groups suggest $1 billion Medicare cuts could cost even more
May 13, 2009
Nursing home representatives and healthcare groups continued their attacks against a proposed FY 2010 $1.05 billion Medicare reduction on Tuesday with the release of a report indicating the cuts could carry additional billions of dollars in unintended costs and consequences for both patients and providers.
CMS threatens withholding stimulus funding if home health pay isn't reinstated
May 13, 2009
When the California state legislature act to reduce the state's maximum contribution to home healthcare workers' pay from $12.10 per hour to $10.10 per hour, it violated the terms of the recently passed federal stimulus package and therefore invalidates the state from receiving $6.8 billion in stimulus money, according to a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services ruling.
Obama proposes $17 billion in budget cuts, programs for the elderly and poor threatened
May 08, 2009
President Obama on Thursday proposed cuts of $17 billion from his new budget for both discretionary spending and entitlement programs, including Medicare and Medicaid. Various interest groups are expected to spar over which of 121 federal programs being eliminated or significantly curtailed should be spared.
Senate Special Committee on Aging addresses Medicare, Medicaid fraud in special hearing
May 07, 2009
The U.S Senate Special Committee on Aging met Wednesday to discuss prevention of Medicare and Medicaid fraud, which costs taxpayers more than $60 billion a year, according to Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL), ranking member of the committee.
Nursing home operators howl as government proposes slashing Medicare payments by $1 billion
May 04, 2009
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services set off a backlash from nursing home operators late Friday afternoon when it proposed "adjustments" that would cut Medicare payments by $1.05 billion in fiscal 2010. The 3.3% reduction will "largely" be offset by a 2.1% market basket increase, officials said.
Baucus, Grassley propose 'bundling' of post-acute payments; nursing home groups object
April 30, 2009
Sens. Max Baucus (D-MT) and Charles Grassley (R-IA) this week released several policy ideas for revamping America's healthcare delivery system. Many of these would affect the long-term care and post-acute care fields.
Report: Nursing home stocks weathering economy OK, but reimbursement concerns loom
April 27, 2009
At least a handful of for-profit nursing home companies' stock values are holding strong, despite an overall shaky economy, a new Dow Jones report notes. The key has been relatively stable Medicare and Medicaid payments, though there is concern about payment levels for fiscal 2010 that are expected to be announced around the end of the month, report authors note.
Most nursing home residents soon to receive $250 as part of stimulus bill
April 24, 2009
This time next month, long-term care residents should pay particularly close attention to their mail. That is because most are set to receive a one-time payment of $250 as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as the stimulus package.
Budget amendment would end bonuses for nursing homes with violations
April 07, 2009
In the wake of the American Insurance Group (AIG) bonus scandal, the Senate approved an amendment to the budget bill that would eliminate bonuses paid to nursing homes and other government contractors that "fail to meet basic performance requirements."
AHCA: Medicare payment 'bundling' could have 'unintended consequences' for long-term care
April 02, 2009
The "bundling" of Medicare payments after a hospital stay could have negative repercussions for long-term care and merits further investigation, the American Health Care Association said Wednesday.
CMS to test cash incentives for nursing home quality, efficiency efforts
March 30, 2009
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Friday announced a new, four-state demonstration project to test whether cash incentives will help improve quality and efficiency in nursing homes.
DAY 2: Last day of McKnight's Online Expo to feature webcasts on marketplace, and Medicare and Medicaid
March 26, 2009
President Barack Obama in a press conference Tuesday night argued that the only way to balance the budget is to address the nation's rising healthcare costs. Medicare and Medicaid, the big government payers of long-term care, and the housing market will be the subjects of McKnight's Online Expo on its final day today.
Leaders applaud Finance Committee's hearing on long-term care reform
March 26, 2009
Providers heaped praise on the Senate Finance Committee for its hearing Wednesday addressing the role of long-term care reform in general healthcare reform.
DAY ONE: McKnight's third annual Online Expo to kick off with webcasts on technology, wound care and payment
March 25, 2009
The third annual online trade show for the long-term care field starts today with a whole range of educational webcasts and virtual vendor booths. It's not too late to register for the two-day event at www.mcknights.com/expo.
Latest News
- Smith & Nephew wound therapy device violates KCI patent, jury determines
- Senate passes bill extending FMAP, therapy caps exceptions process
- Medicare terminates prescription drug contract with Fox Insurance Company
- First MDS 3.0 training to take place next week
- Long-term care hospitals subject of Senate investigation
- Latest bill would extend therapy caps exceptions process through end of year
- Medicare case-mix likely to become more clinically complex, NIC panel asserts
- Apply outcomes measurement to therapy services
- Oldest American dies at nearly 115 years of age
- Slow economy didn't stop new assisted living regulations in 2009: report
- Medicare case-mix likely to become more clinically complex, NIC panel asserts
- Court: Medicare hospice provider cap calculated improperly
- Latest big hope against Alzheimer's falls flat in clinical trials
- Pennsylvania seeks federal Medicaid assistance to stave off disaster
- Temporary measure extends therapy caps exceptions, longer fix could be coming
- Elderly ICU, hospital patients might survive longer at home, research suggests
- Senate passes bill extending FMAP, therapy caps exceptions process
- Shift long-term care payment responsibility from Medicaid to Medicare, research group suggests
- Slow economy didn't stop new assisted living regulations in 2009: report
- Healthcare IT could further strain Medicaid budgets, state directors say
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