Report: Dual eligibles challenge New York’s healthcare reform plans
Oct 27, 2008
The dual-eligible population of New York–those elderly individuals enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid–pose a significant cost burden on the healthcare system, and hinder reform efforts,...
CMS releases draft of MDS 3.0
Oct 27, 2008
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released a draft version of MDS 3.0 last week. CMS disclosed details about it at a Long-Term Care Open Door Forum.
Study: Medicare pay-for-performance penalizes hospitals that treat more elderly patients
Oct 22, 2008
Hospitals that serve large groups of the elderly, poor, African-American or female patients tend to be ranked lower than hospitals with healthier, younger clientele under the Medicare pay-for-performance...
McCain spokesman denies Obama’s Medicare claims
Oct 21, 2008
Sen. Barack Obama (D) recently accused his rival in the presidential race of planning to slice $882 billion from Medicare to fund his healthcare plan. It is a charge Sen. John McCain’s (R) camp refutes.
Candidates, lawmakers vow healthcare reform will occur, despite financial upheaval
Oct 17, 2008
The current global financial crisis will not prevent the next Congress or president from making healthcare reforms, key leaders are saying.
Hospital IV therapy may drain Medicare Part D, news analysis finds
Oct 16, 2008
The Medicare Part D insurance plan may be wasting billions of dollars on intravenous drug treatments. Because it does not cover many of the drug-related costs of home-care treatment, patients have to go...
Supplemental compliance program guidance available for nursing facilities
Oct 13, 2008
The Office of Inspector General has supplemented 2000 compliance program guidance for nursing facilities.
MedPAC focuses on nursing home rehospitalizations
Oct 10, 2008
Congress’s advisory panel on Medicare matters is examining rehospitalization rates of nursing home residents. Staff members for the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission told commissioners last week...
Prevention key to reducing healthcare costs, organizations say
Oct 09, 2008
Offering more preventive care could reduce the rate of chronic conditions and cut down on healthcare spending, according to a new fact sheet from the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease and the Partnership...
New Web tool allows some nursing homes to compare themselves with peers
Oct 09, 2008
The American Health Care Association introduced a new Web-based tool this week that offers a way for member organizations to compare themselves with their peers.