Recent action by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announces significant change in reimbursement methodology for high volume orthopedic surgical procedures in many markets nationwide. Affected stakeholders...more
On June 5, 2015, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) released another study in its continuing scrutiny of skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and therapy services: Skilled Nursing...more
In This Issue: - ACO Eligibility Requirements - Establishing and Maintaining the ACO Participation Agreement - Data Sharing and Assignment of Beneficiaries - Shared Savings and Losses - Waivers of...more
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) announced that the new RAC contracts in North Carolina should be ready by the end of the year. This means that, next year, RAC audits on hospitals and other providers will...more
Directed Plans of Correction, or DPOCs, have long been part of the arsenal of enforcement sanctions available to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for survey deficiencies, just like civil money penalties (CMPs);...more
If you are an operator of a skilled nursing facility (SNF), you might have faced the reality of insufficient medical staff and how it impacts your ability to deliver quality patient care to your residents. Or, you might have...more
On May 1, 2014, CMS released proposed payment and policy changes for Medicare Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs), Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (IRFs), and Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities (IPFs). Some of the key changes...more
CMS Proposes Payment Changes for Hospice Providers, SNFs, IRFs and Inpatient Psych Facilities – Last week, CMS issued proposed rules that would make certain payment and policy changes to the payment systems for...more
On May 1, 2014, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that would include payment and policy changes for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) (Proposed SNF Rule). The Proposed SNF Rule would...more
In a highly publicized recent case in California, a registered nurse working in an independent living facility refused to initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on an elderly resident who was experiencing respiratory...more
On July 31, CMS released a final rule that will increase payments to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) by 1.3 percent, or $470 million, in Fiscal Year 2014. ...more
On May 1, 2013, CMS issued a proposed rule that would update payment rates under the prospective payment system (PPS) for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) for fiscal year (FY) 2014. The proposal would increase aggregate...more