Category: Healthcare reform

HHS, in partnership with industry, releases voluntary cybersecurity practices for the health industry

By Amanda Hurlburt May 17, 2019 Healthcare reform

Updated: May 23, 2019

On Friday, December 28, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the “Health Industry Cybersecurity Practices (HICP): Managing Threats and Protecting Patients” publication. The four-volume publication aims to provide voluntary cybersecurity practices to healthcare organizations of all types and sizes, ranging from local clinics to large hospital systems. The industry-led effort was in […]

Implementing an efficient preadmission screening process to determine potential revenue under PDPM

By Amanda Hurlburt Jan 4, 2019 Healthcare reform

Updated: May 10, 2019

Source: The Bottom Line Most hospitals like for facilities to respond to referrals within 15 minutes, and that can be a very ambitious goal. It usually includes running insurance, speaking with the director of nursing, or calling the pharmacy to get an idea of drug costs. Facilities are used to relying on their admissions coordinator […]

Key elements of ACO program overhaul

By Amanda Hurlburt Dec 28, 2018 Healthcare reform

Updated: May 10, 2019

Source: The Bottom Line CMS finalized a rule with new requirements for accountable care organizations (ACO) last week, reducing the amount of time an ACO is allowed to stay in the program without assuming risk and expanding the three-day stay waivers for nursing homes. “Most Medicare ACOs do not currently face financial consequences when costs […]

Federal judge finds Obamacare unconstitutional; law remains in effect pending further decisions

By Amanda Hurlburt Dec 21, 2018 Healthcare reform

Updated: May 10, 2019

Source: Home Health Line A federal judge has ruled that the entirety of the Affordable Care Act aka Obamacare is unconstitutional, though he did not order a remedy and an appeal is already being assembled. Texas v. United States was filed in February in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, seeking declaratory […]

LTC Institute is asking for your complaints

By Amanda Hurlburt Nov 9, 2018 Healthcare reform

Updated: May 10, 2019

The TRECS Institute, a non-profit dedicated to improving the care of seniors, with support from the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics (LDI) has announced the launch of a national, grassroots initiative designed to identify and address “No Brainers” within our long-term care system. The goal of this initiative is to identify “No Brainers,” defined […]

Yale studies approach to patient-centered care that involved a critical conversation with patients

By Amanda Hurlburt Oct 5, 2018 Assisted Living

Updated: May 10, 2019

Researchers at Yale, New York University School of Medicine, and Baylor College of Medicine recently studied an approach to patient-centered care that involves tailoring healthcare of seniors to senior’s desires. The approach, which was studied and published in the Journal of American Geriatric Society, included a structured, 30-minute conversation with patients in primary care practices. […]

Justice Department announces expansion of Medicare Fraud Strike Force

By Amanda Hurlburt Sep 4, 2018 Healthcare reform

Updated: May 10, 2019

From Home Health Line. The HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) has announced the formation of a 10th area where regional Medicare Fraud Strike Force Teams will operate: New Jersey/Philadelphia. The team will focus on health care fraud and illegal opioid prescriptions, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. “The devastation the opioid epidemic is […]

CMS posts updates on IMPACT Act data elements

By Amanda Hurlburt Jul 26, 2018 Healthcare reform

Updated: May 10, 2019

Brought to you by Home Health Line. CMS has posted slides about recent Standardized Patient Assessment Data Elements (SPADE) activities involving the IMPACT Act. But it canceled the July 25 special open door forum where it had planned to discuss the slides. The slides discuss CMS’ progress on national field test data collection, among other […]

CMS proposes nonskilled service coverage as additional benefit to Medicare Advantage

By Amanda Hurlburt Feb 16, 2018 Healthcare reform

Updated: May 10, 2019

On February 1, 2018, CMS proposed new Medicare Advantage and Part D payment and policy updates to provide new benefits, some nonskilled, for enrollees. The development, if passed, could change how agencies focus their business. “I think for private duty, this is a big plus,” says Diane Link, director of clinical services with Conshohocken, Pa.-based […]

CJR localities halved; hip fracture episode payment model eliminated

By Amanda Hurlburt Dec 1, 2017 Healthcare reform

Updated: May 10, 2019

CMS has finalized its plan to cancel four mandatory episode payment models for common cardiac and orthopedic conditions, according to a rule posted Nov. 30. The models had been due to begin in January. Within the same rule, CMS also finalized its plan to dial back the comprehensive care of joint replacement (CJR) program that […]