Online resource packed with regulatory news and expert guidance, tips & tools pertinent to professionals across the post-acute care continuum.
According to findings reported by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG), accountable care organizations (ACOs) participating in the Shared Savings Program are learning how to achieve greater cost savings over time. The Medicare Shared Savings Program is one of the largest alternative payment models implemented by CMS to reward […]
By Marisa Taylor, Kaiser Health News PHILADELPHIA — Carol Emanuele beat cancer. But for the past two years, she has been fighting her toughest battle yet. She has an open wound on the bottom of her foot that leaves her unable to walk and prone to deadly infection. In an effort to treat her diabetic […]
Managed care organizations (MCO) are breaking new ground when it comes to controlling and reducing long-term healthcare costs, changing the way care is delivered in today’s skilled nursing facility (SNF). With the number of managed care beneficiaries increasing every year and continual changes in how care is administered and reimbursed, it’s essential that SNFs understand […]
As expected, SNFs will receive a 1% increase in federal payments for FY 2018, roughly $370 million more than they received in FY 2017. Though the increase amount doesn’t come as a surprise with its original proposal being published back in April, it’s much lower than the $800 million that was proposed for SNFs last […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a notice of meeting to be held on September 8, 2017 from 10:00am to 5pm, ET to discuss ideas for a potential behavioral health payment model for beneficiaries with cognitive impairments such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The meeting is open to the public but space […]
Two proposals published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) last week suggest two potential changes affecting Medicare coverage and the three-day rule waiver: Medicare may cover outpatient beneficiary knee replacements; and Accountable care organizations (ACO) may no longer be required to submit documents explaining financial relationships between the organization, skilled nursing affiliates […]
Patient assessment data elements collected across PAC settings must be standardized, according to requirements mandated by the IMPACT Act. CMS has contracted with the RAND Corporation to develop and implement standardized patient assessment data elements mandated by the IMPACT Act. This effort is taking place over a three-year period from October 2015 through September 2018. […]
Hospital clinicians’ evaluation and decision-making regarding which patients are discharged to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) “may be characterized as rushed, without a clear system or framework,” according to a clinical investigation published by the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Due to increased accountability placed on both settings for the outcomes of individuals who […]
Data show that the flu vaccine did a poor job of protecting older adults, ages 65 and older, from the illness last winter. Results were presented by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices—a group of health experts that provide recommendations regarding the use of vaccines in the United States—and showed that the vaccine was only […]
Proposed rule aims to simplify reporting requirements and offer support for doctors and clinicians in 2018 On Tuesday, June 20, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that would make changes in the second year of the Quality Payment Program as required by the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of […]