The Affordable Care Act's controversial Medicare payment board would be an "agent for reimbursement cuts to Medicare," according to a policy paper released Wednesday.
May 10, 2012
Medicare cuts scheduled to hit in January will cost skilled nursing facilities close to $800 million in fiscal year 2014, a new analysis estimates.
Bad debt provisions of recent legislation will cut skilled nursing facility payments by nearly $3 billion between 2012 and 2021, with a handful of states bearing the brunt of it, a report finds.
February 14, 2012
While President Obama's proposed 2013 budget contains expected Medicare cuts, long-term care groups have expressed their disappointment. Among other proposals, the American Health Care Association criticized a provision of the budget that would "align Medicare policy more closely with private sector standards by reducing bad debt payments to 25% for all eligible providers over three years starting in 2013."
In order to survive an uncertain financial and regulatory environment, skilled nursing operators need to look at partnering with other healthcare systems and improving the quality of care, analysts say.
Ohio skilled nursing facilities have shed or plan to shed 2,800 jobs in the wake of recent Medicare and Medicaid cuts, new survey results show. It could be just the start of losses to be felt around the country.
December 06, 2011
Congress should extend the therapy caps exception process for medically necessary Medicare Part B outpatient therapy services, several long-term care groups said Tuesday.
November 17, 2011
According to The Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care, the ACA tackles the issue of costly hospital readmissions by focusing on hospitals, but ignores skilled nursing facilities. The Alliance has therefore proposed an interim solution based on proposals the Obama administration has offered the "super committee."
November 15, 2011
Despite the mixed feelings about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act among long-term care providers, all groups agree that they will be closely monitoring a case now headed to the Supreme Court. The high court said Monday it would hear oral arguments on ACA's constitutionality in March.
Congress could stave off the predicted loss of 20,000 nursing home jobs by enacting a phased-in funding regulation over three years, according to one provider group.
November 08, 2011
The Medicare PPS skilled nursing facility final rule that was enacted Oct. 1 could result in 20,000 nursing home layoffs nationwide and another 20,000 jobs lost to abandoned expansion activity, according to results of a new national survey.
October 13, 2011
Resident satisfaction rates have improved and health survey citations are declining in skilled nursing facilities, according to a new quality of care report.
Provider groups are concerned that President Obama's newly unveiled $447 billion jobs plan will eat away at job growth in the healthcare sector, which is one place advocates say the economy is growing.
August 30, 2011
Two lobby groups representing the nation's for-profit nursing homes kicked off a nationwide ad campaign Monday aimed at preventing additional cuts to Medicare and Medicaid.
August 09, 2011
Ratings agency Standard & Poor's has put all six of its rated for-profit nursing home operators on Credit Watch with a negative outlook.
The Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care is launching a new ad campaign to remind lawmakers that skilled nursing and rehabilitation service facilities are the second-largest health facility employer in the United States.
