Medicare/Medicaid

CMS funds nursing home for prisoners

A Connecticut nursing home will receive federal funding to help pay for and provide care to the state’s aging inmates.  Read More »

Congress to CMS: bolster oversight audits

Sen. Chuck Grassley asked Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma to explain nearly $125 million in potential overcharges for Medicare Advantage plans.  Read More »

Parkinson’s disease awareness month shows unshakeable spirit

The American Parkinson Disease Association kicks off a new campaign to highlight the spirit and stories of those with Parkinson's disease to raise awareness of the illness. Read More »

The ACA and Medicaid

After months of political leverage on repealing the Affordable Care Act, the GOP decided to ditch its new House bill without voting on it. Now what? Read More »

Home care before hospice

Home based palliative care, or pre-hospice, programs aim to improve quality of life by bringing healthcare workers into the home and better care coordination—all while cutting costs for seniors and Medicare. And research shows it’s working. Read More »

GOP withdraws healthcare act bill

Minutes before the House was scheduled to vote on the American Health Care Act, Speaker Paul Ryan was forced to withdraw the bill, citing lack of support. The bill would have made sweeping changes to Medicaid.  Read More »

Veyo to double its transportation market in 2017

The California startup has its wheels in motion to transform non-medical transportation for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. Read More »

Verma confirmed as next CMS Administrator

The Senate approved President Donald Trump's nominee to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services late Monday. Read More »

The repeal and replace bill: Medicaid’s most dangerous enemy?

The GOP's long-awaited bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act is here--but its vision may be dangerously shortsighted. Read More »

TX hospice indicted for $60M fraud, overmedicating

Sixteen people are mired in a $60 million scheme to rip off Medicare for false hospice services, including giving Schedule II controlled pain medication to patients who didn’t need them. Read More »

Silver linings

Long-term and post-acute care has plenty of challenges for 2017, but trials and tribulations can be good for the industry in the long run. Read More »

New federal rules for home health agencies

Federal regulations, set to go into effect in July, would require the more than 12,000 home health agencies participating in Medicare and Medicaid be more responsive--and responsible--for patients and caregivers.  Read More »

Price confirmed to head HHS

The Senate has approved the president’s nomination of Representative Tom Price as the new secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Read More »

Re-examining CMS’ 5-star rating system

A new GAO report highlights why experts say the next addition to the Nursing Home Compare five-star ratings should be customer service. Read More »

Providers, Medicare renew battle over therapy services

Four years after the Jimmo court case, Medicare officials, providers and senior advocates still can't agree on how to handle ongoing therapy services for patients who aren't improving. Read More »

PointRight, Pathway launch 5-star ratings solution

The product will help skilled nursing facilities maximize their 5-star ratings under the CMS's Nursing Home Compare system. Read More »

Fighting superbugs with genetic warfare

As antibiotic resistance grows, scientists are learning how to attack killer bacteria at the genetic level. Read More »

Judge says no to Aetna/Humana merger

The risks to pricing and competition among Medicare plans were key factors in the denial, the court says. Read More »

CMS applauds readmission reduction

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has seen a substantial decline in hospitalization admissions among Medicare beneficiaries in long-term care.  Read More »

Therapy billing fraud: When will LTC learn?

Providers who overbill or fudge their therapy services are on the DOJ’s radar more than ever. So why is there still so much therapy billing fraud? Read More »

CMS releases home health agency rules

Home health agencies that receive Medicare or Medicaid funds must now comply with a new set of rules designed to close the gaps in care documentation. Read More »

Medicaid Qualified Income Trust a trying process

Resident blogger Kathleen Mears details her lengthy—and frustrating—journey of setting up a Qualified Income Trust (QIT/Miller trust) to meet Ohio’s changing Medicaid eligibility requirements. Read More »

CMS issues final rule for cardiac bundled payments

CMS released its latest episodic care models Tuesday, including the 90-day bundles for heart and bypass patients. Read More »

CMS offers compliance guidelines to HCBS settings on wandering

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released compliance guideline fact sheet for home- and community-based providers who care for people who exhibit wandering or exit-seeking. Read More »

Medicare Part B outpatient drug payment cancelled

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will not move forward with a mandatory five-year Medicare initiative that would have tested new ways to pay for outpatient drugs under Medicare Part B. Read More »

CMS to test new ACO model for dual-eligibles

The pilot will let accountable care organizations manage the Medicaid claims for beneficiaries who receive both Medicare and Medicaid benefits. Read More »

LTC industry: Get back to basics ahead of Trump Adminstration

There may be regulatory changes ahead for the long-term care industry under a Trump Administration and Republican-led Congress, but Cynthia Morton says the best thing long-term care facilities can do is to keep doing what they've always done: take care of people. Read More »

GOP, Trump regime met with optimism

AHCA/NCAL anticipates—and looks forward to—expected regulatory relief and repeal under the new Republican-led White House and Congress. Read More »

Home health pushes for more thought on CMS pre-claim policy

A coalition of home health providers is encouraging Congress to give Medicare more time to iron out its home health pre-claim policy before pilots begin. Read More »

Medicare crunch time with Trump administration, Part II

Contributor Robert Gatty ponders whether sweeping reforms are ahead as President-elect Donald Trump fills out his Cabinet and Republicans retain majority in Congress.  Read More »