Articles and Blogs

I wanted to highlight a post from one of our sister-blogs at Hall Render, the Litigation Analysis Blog, about a recent jail term for a nursing assistant who posted pictures of a resident to her Facebook account. In that case, a judge sentenced a nursing assistant to eight days in jail, and two years probation... READ MORE

As a means of improving care to residents residing in Medicare/Medicaid nursing facilities, CMS announced on March 15, 2012 an initiative to help reduce avoidable hospitalizations.  Organizations interested in participating in this initiative must submit an application to CMS by June 14, 2012. The goal of the initiative is to improve care for residents... READ MORE

As expected earlier this month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have just released guidance for health facilities wishing to utilize specific features now available in the 2012 Life Safety Code (LSC).  As previously discussed, the updated LSC provides new ways for nursing facilities to adopt a more home-like setting.  The recent... READ MORE

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) is an independent Congressional advisory agency that makes formal recommendations to Congress in March and June of each year.  MedPAC was created to advise Congress on issues affecting the administration of the Medicare Program.  While Congress is not obligated to follow MedPAC’s recommendations, the recommendations are heavily considered.  This... READ MORE

The 2012 Life Safety Code (LSC) contains numerous provisions that address culture change in nursing facilities.  These new provisions are somewhat of a liberalization of standards to permit a more home-like environment for residents, rather than an institutional setting.  I am expecting the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to release a Survey... READ MORE

An article in the New York Times discussed a growing trend away from the utilization of nursing facilities in favor of managed care and home care.  In light of reimbursement cuts from Medicare and Medicaid, the push to home health, managed care, and the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) has received enthusiastic response from some... READ MORE

CMS recently issued guidance to the State Survey Agencies regarding changes to the survey procedures for Home Health Agencies (HHAs).  Effective January 1, 2011, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Home Health Prospective Payment System (PPS) final rule amended the regulations for certification activities related to HHAs.  CMS’s goal in implementing these... READ MORE

On February 8, 2012, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the Department of Health and Human Services issued an Alert cautioning physicians who reassign their Medicare benefits. The Alert included precautions to physicians to perform appropriate due diligence of the entities to which they reassign their benefits. The OIG also alerted physicians to... READ MORE

As part of their on-going video series, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) has posted a video on their self-disclosure protocols. Self-disclosure is a key element of an effective compliance program, and can possibly reduce any civil monetary penalties (CMPs) associated with a violation or instance of noncompliance. The OIG has provided many videos... READ MORE

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has published a transmittal detailing changes for coding hospice discharges, which will provide greater clarity as to why the patient has been discharged from hospice care.   READ MORE