Robert Gatty

Robert Gatty has more than 40 years of experience in journalism, politics and business communications and is the founder and president of G-Net Strategic Communications based in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He can be reached at bob@gattyedits.com.

MedPAC targets Medicare payments to SNFs

With margins averaging 18.5 percent in 2010, MedPAC contends SNFs are making a killing on Medicare. Under the proposed rebasing plan, there would be a zero update in 2013, followed by an initial reduction of four percent in 2014. Read More »

Long-term care seen better days?

Already faced with the prospect of absorbing $127 billion in Medicare funding reductions through 2021, the long-term care industry may find itself confronted with even more strife in the year ahead. Read More »

Revisions to ACO rule encourage provider participation

Bob Gatty Now that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released its final and revised rule for accountable care organizations Read More »

One-two punch: CLASS demise and budget cuts

Bob Gatty The hits from Washington keep coming for the LTC industry, already reeling from a series of Medicare and Medicaid cuts, and now facing Read More »

Employers fight proposed union election timelines

Bob Gatty Business organizations, including representatives of the long-term care industry, have mobilized to fight a proposed new regulation from Read More »

Final rule cuts deep

Bob Gatty The long-term care industry is now facing an 11.1 percent Medicare payment reduction to SNFs for 2012 in new rates to be implemented Read More »

Aligning benefits for dual eligibles

Directed by provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the new health reform law, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has launched a Read More »

CMS considers $4 billion SNF payment reduction

Bob Gatty Since last October, skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) have been paid by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) at an Read More »

A look behind the headlines

Bob Gatty With so much effort underway in state capitals from Wisconsin to Florida to slash spending and close budget deficits, including efforts Read More »

Spending cuts loom for Medicare/Medicaid

With the pressure on Washington to slash federal spending, the long-term care community can expect to face its share of the pain, and Read More »

LTC protests therapy payment policy

Bob Gatty The long-term care (LTC) community is up in arms about a new Medicare policy for paying for therapy services, which industry Read More »

Feds question SNF billing and payment practices

Two reports by federal health investigators have raised questions about billing practices at skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) for therapy Read More »

Regulatory reprieve

When the lame duck Congress last month gave a one-year reprieve to Medicare doctors who were facing a 25% payment cut this month, it also overturned Read More »

Feds crackdown on healthcare fraud

The U.S. government is strengthening its crackdown on practitioners who scam federal healthcare programs, with new muscle provided by the 2010 Read More »

Health reform ‘triggers concerns’

The other day I had lunch with the CEO of a chain of nursing homes, and over crab cakes and salads, he brought up a news story about McDonald's Read More »

For Medicaid, relief is on the way

State officials across the nation are now preparing for a continuing infusion of additional Medicaid money as a result of Congressional passage of Read More »

Consumer protection and CCRCs

Continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) have attracted the attention of the federal government and two parallel investigations of the Read More »

Popular support opposes funding cuts

At a glance… A groundswell of public opposition to any cuts affecting the nation's elderly have many in Congress scrambling to find less Read More »

Bill would enforce IOM oversight of state of care

At a glance… Legislation has been introduced that would require the Institutes of Medicine to review care at nursing homes as well as the federal Read More »

McClellan to forge new foundation for CAST

At a glance… Mark McClellan, MD, PhD, the new chairman of the CAST Commission, will try to lay the foundation for a better understanding of how Read More »

Medicare, Medicaid funding cuts battle continues

At a glance… Two lawmakers urge their colleagues to protect Medicare and Medicaid from additional cuts in the government's 2011 budget. While Read More »

Medicaid funding teetering on ‘fiscal cliff’

At a glance… State Medicaid program and reimbursement levels are in jeopardy of significant reductions as the continued economic downturn fuels Read More »

‘Temporary management’ imposed on inadequate facilities

A government watchdog agency is recommending that federal officials take steps to use existing authority to impose temporary management on Read More »

Maintaining Medicare funding ‘literal lifeline’

At a glance… Analysis by Eljay, LLC, says the actual cost of providing nursing home care will be underfunded by Medicaid by nearly $4.7 billion for Read More »

CLASS Act provisions (hopefully) in final health reform

At a glance… There is a good chance that the ultimate healthcare reform bill to be considered by Congress will include provisions designed to Read More »

House healthcare reform bill includes LTC provisions

While long-term living facilities may face some challenges as a result of eventual healthcare reform legislation, two provisions in the Read More »

Two views: The quality question

At a glance… Bob Gatty highlights two reports on the state of quality in long-term care. Industry lobbyists, intent on blocking proposed Medicare Read More »

Attorneys general recommend Five-Star overhaul

As nursing home interests in Washington continue to battle proposed Medicare cuts to help finance healthcare reform, they also have tackled another Read More »

Medicare funding cuts a game-changer

Organizations representing skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are warning that the potential impact of proposed Medicare reductions in healthcare Read More »

Disaster planning for elderly ‘woefully inadequate’

While much of Washington's attention is focused on healthcare reform and how to pay for it, the feds have been told that existing resources and Read More »