Providers may be reimbursed for Medicare beneficiaries' bad debts even after sending them to a collection agency, a U.S. District Court judge has ruled.
April 03, 2013
PointRight recently announced the combined launch of its new iPad app. The new tool gives mobile access to all of the firm's analytics services and reports.
April 01, 2013
Kindred Healthcare will continue to offload its nursing facility operations leased from Ventas, according to President and CEO Paul J. Diaz.
February 13, 2013
Democrats in the Senate could introduce a bill this week to replace the automatic spending cuts known as the sequester, which is scheduled to take effect March 1. Many long-term care stakeholders have opposed the 2% Medicare cuts that are part of the $85 billion sequestration package.
In the latest example of reimbursement fraud in Florida, authorities arrested the leaders of a nursing home management company Tuesday for allegedly defrauding Medicaid of more than $2.75 million.
October 01, 2012
Former CMS chief Tom Scully is off-base in his chastisement of the long-term care industry.
September 27, 2012
If there's one overwhelming challenge in a long-term care setting, it's how to code the Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).
September 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 wondering the same thing.
September 17, 2012
The revised hospital payment system technically hasn't begun yet. But that doesn't mean senior living operators shouldn't find a dark cloud around this silver lining.
Next week it will be the Democrats' turn to offer their visions of the future for the Medicare and Medicaid programs, as well as other issues that would significantly affect long-term care operators. Expected at the Democratic National Convention in North Carolina is at least some degree of chest thumping over actions compelled by the Affordable Care Act, the reform law often referred to as "Obamacare." Republicans this week adopted a platform that would significantly alter the way Medicaid and Medicare funds would be distributed. The stakes could be huge for LTC operators: Together, the programs currently pay about 75% of U.S. long-term care costs.
Next week it will be the Democrats' turn to offer their visions of the future for the Medicare and Medicaid programs, as well as other issues that would significantly affect long-term care operators. Expected at the Democratic National Convention in North Carolina is at least some degree of chest thumping over actions compelled by the Affordable Care Act, the reform law often referred to as "Obamacare." Republicans this week adopted a platform that would significantly alter the way Medicaid and Medicare funds would be distributed. The stakes could be huge for LTC operators: Together, the programs currently pay about 75% of U.S. long-term care costs.
A new agreement will bring the COMS Daylight IQ to MDI Achieve Matrix.
August 03, 2012
The federal government should bar healthcare providers with large amounts of unpaid taxes from receiving Medicaid funds, incensed lawmakers said Thursday following the release of a government report.
August 01, 2012
There's a great Randy Travis song that includes the line, "Since my phone still ain't ringing, I assume it still ain't you." How fitting for long-term care this week.
August 01, 2012
There's a great Randy Travis song that includes the line, "Since my phone still ain't ringing, I assume it still ain't you." How fitting for long-term care this week.
Optimus EMR Inc. recently announced the creation of Visum Solutions. The independent division was formed to provide tailored assistance to long-term care facilities. Available services target operations, billing, reimbursement, and compliance, in addition to specific client requests
June 06, 2012
Last week, I heard one of the most insightful, no-baloney talks I've heard in a while from a long-term care official.
May 08, 2012
Long-term care providers should hone in on the changing needs of their market by embracing what customers want and will pay for, and by working to change the profession's image problem, LTC executives said Monday.
April 24, 2012
You could soak up plenty of what you'd want to hear at a conference Monday at the LeadingAge PEAK Leadership Summit: discussions ranging from leadership and policy to payments.
April 18, 2012
First, it was the U.S. Supreme Court's turn to leave providers in suspense. Now, it's a group of decision-makers without robes who have operators holding their breath.
April 13, 2012
Healthcare analysts are proposing that Medicare providers, including nursing homes, could recoup millions of dollars if the Supreme Court strikes down the Affordable Care Act.
February 29, 2012
I don't know when I've ever heard louder joyful shouts of, "We didn't lose!"
February 17, 2012
A bill that contains legislation cancelling a scheduled Medicare reimbursement cut to physicians has passed the House and Senate.
February 10, 2012
Recently, claims for hospital patients discharged to skilled nursing homes have come under increased review, particularly by various recovery audit contractors. If you know some background and better understand the situation, it can only help.
October 04, 2011
Medicaid beneficiaries in a nursing home are 27% more likely than private pay residents to be sent to a hospital rather than be treated on-site, according to a new study.
Saturday marks the much-awaited — if not eagerly anticipated — Oct. 1 start date for a sweeping new set of changes to the MDS 3.0 resident assessment tool. Nursing home operators believe this could be the start of a new era of austerity. Among other challenges: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is enacting changes to reclaim billions of dollars in "overpayments" made over the last 12 months. Federal regulators have released hundreds of changes to the operations manual during the last several weeks alone. Experts caution that coding during the first transition month, which begins tomorrow, must be spot-on in order to avert missed payments, penalties or both.
September 26, 2011
While the changes to the new SNF PPS rule have been summarized as a simple number reflecting an overall revenue decrease of 11.1%, there are many details in the rulemaking that result in a disproportionate impact upon individual providers.
August 31, 2011
Hurricane Irene evacuations have some East Coast nursing home operators nervous that reimbursement payments will be late or inadequate.
August 19, 2011
Have you started your COT trending analysis? On Aug. 8, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released the final ruling and commentary for the new implementation of the MDS changes set to take effect on Oct. 1. Of these many changes, I believe the most significant will be with the Change of Therapy OMRA.
July 18, 2011
If the Ultra High is the highest level of allowable treatment we may seek, it's our professional obligation to clinically provide these levels of service to every patient.
