Below is Alston & Bird’s Health Care Week in Review, which provides a synopsis of the latest news in health care regulations, notices, and guidance; federal legislation and congressional committee action; reports, studies,...more
Adult children in Pennsylvania with aging parents might be shocked to learn that they can be financially responsible for their parents’ nursing home bills. Pennsylvania, along with many other states, has filial support laws...more
On April 4, 2023, CMS issued proposed rules for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 to update Medicare payment policies for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and inpatient psychiatric facilities (IPFs). CMS notes these rules are intended...more
On April 3-4, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a number of proposed rules that would materially impact reimbursement rates for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), inpatient psychiatric facilities (IPFs)...more
Skilled Nursing Facilities in particular and to a lesser extent other types of Residential Care Facilities, including Assisted Living Facilities and Behavioral Health Facilities, have always been under the government’s...more
Below is Alston & Bird’s Health Care Week in Review, which provides a synopsis of the latest news in healthcare regulations, notices, and guidance; federal legislation and congressional committee action; reports, studies, and...more
Last week CMS issued a new round of regulatory waivers and rule changes in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, including its Interim Final Rule with comment period, CMS-5531-IFC. The key changes relax certain...more
As part of sweeping exemptions aimed at facilitating all levels of healthcare during the coronavirus public health emergency, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has been issuing waivers for a wide range of...more
Hospital patients who need additional care after being discharged from the hospital are usually sent to either an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) or a skilled nursing facility (SNF). Although these facilities may look...more
CMS released the Fiscal Year 2020 proposed rule (the Proposed Rule) outlining new Medicare policy and payment changes for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) last Wednesday. The Proposed Rule proposes updating IRF...more
On May 8, 2018, in its FY2019 SNF PPS Proposed Rule, CMS proposed a new case mix classification system that drives Medicare reimbursement for SNF inpatient services. The new system would go into effect on October 1, 2019. CMS...more
On April 24 and 27, 2018, CMS launched its annual gaggle of proposed regulations – each with the theme of "Patients over Paperwork" – with the stated goal of "advanc[ing] the agency's priority of creating a patient-driven...more
On August 5th, CMS published final rules updating the Medicare payment rates for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) for FY 2017. The rules, both of which go into effect on October...more
On July 29, 2016, CMS released three separate final rules updating the fiscal year 2017 payment rates for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), hospices and inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs). Payments will increase...more
In late May, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) issued comment letters in response to multiple CMS payment proposals in which MedPAC encouraged refinements to the hospital star rating system to emphasize...more
I. REGULATIONS, NOTICES, & GUIDANCE - On April 21, 2016, CMS issued a proposed rule entitled, “Medicare Program: FY 2017 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Requirements.” This...more
CMS Issues SNF Final Payment Rule for FY 2016 – On July 30, 2015, CMS released the final Medicare FY 2016 payment rule for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). The final rule will result in an estimated increase of $430 million...more
This Week: House Ways & Means Committee Holds Markup; Makes Significant Legislative Changes to Health Care Bills... Senate Finance Committee Holds Markup on Medicare Appeals Process Bill... CMS Issues Final Rule on...more
This Week: House E&C 21st Century Cures Bill Passes Unanimously Out of Committee... House Votes to Codify Permanent R&D Tax Credit... CMS Released Proposed Rule Concerning Medicaid and CHIP Plans....more
HHS’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) released on Friday its Work Plan for fiscal year (FY) 2015. The 94-page work plan summarizes the new and ongoing reviews and activities that OIG plans to pursue across the full spectrum...more