The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is cracking down on hospices by adding new enforcement mechanisms and survey capabilities.
Earlier this month, the agency announced that four states, including Arizona, would be under strict scrutiny for the creation of new hospices after a wave of hospice businesses in the states...
Last Friday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published the final rule for the FY 2024 Hospice Payment Rate Update.
Hospices will receive 3.1% pay bump, which will work out to roughly $780 million. According to the CMS Fact Sheet, the rule also raises the payment cap to $33,494.01.
The agency also notes that it...
On Tuesday, President Joe Biden signed a massive executive order aimed at senior care, long-term care facilities and home caregiving. The order also included provisions for child care and early childhood education.
The long-term care sector has struggled with workforce shortages that predate the COVID-19 pandemic but were exacerbated...
Last week, LeadingAge published a white paper that describes the difficulties Medicare Advantage members face accessing payment for post-acute care services.
The white paper, "Fulfilling the Promise: Medicare Advantage," identifies the issues that many beneficiaries face when attempting to access benefits, such as delays, unnecessary...
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a set of quality metrics for home and community-based services (HCBS) to assess patient health outcomes. According to CMS, the ratings will provide insight into HCBS programs and will enable states to determine the success of long-term services and support programs offered...CMS Rules
On June 29, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) updated its guidance on requirements for long-term care facilities on staffing levels, arbitration, infection prevention and the administration of certain medications. The agency attributed the guidance to President Joe Biden's efforts to improve nursing home safety and is...CMS Rules
On Monday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) filed the Fiscal Year 2023 Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System (PPS) Proposed Rule. The reimbursements include a 3.9% increase to industry reimbursements, but in aggregate the impact of payment policies would result in a decrease of $320 million in...
The Biden Administration announced Friday a set of reforms aimed at improving the safety and quality of nursing home care. The reforms are intended to hold nursing home facilities accountable and promote transparency by implementing staffing requirements and strict quality standards, among other methods. The proposal has been met with...
Nursing home operators were handed a major setback in their proceedings against hundreds of negligence and wrongful death lawsuits related to COVID-19 last Wednesday when the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia affirmed a lower court ruling. The appellate court ruled that cases against two New Jersey facilities should...Arizona News
Across the board, medical groups, hospitals and health care personnel are requesting institutional vaccination mandates for healthcare workers as the Delta variant spread increases case counts and hospitalizations nationwide.
The American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Nurses Association (ANA) were joined by 58 other...
