Articles and Blogs

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) has given itself an extra year to review and assess skilled nursing facility proposed regulations issued in 2019. The 2019 Proposed Rule aimed to increase the ability of health care professionals to apportion resources to improve resident care by eliminating or reducing requirements that could impede... READ MORE

As questions, concerns and frustration continue for skilled nursing facilities and families on visitation at facilities, CMS released additional recommendations, clarifications and guidance on a host of issues that skilled nursing providers face as they encounter certain visitation scenarios. On February 2, 2022, CMS updated and added several questions and answers in its December... READ MORE

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) has armed surveyors with detailed instructions on how to survey skilled nursing facilities for compliance with the CMS staff vaccine requirements. On January 27, 2022, CMS issued updates to the Long-Term Care Survey Process Procedure Guide effective January 27, 2022 (the “Surveyor Guide”). Also on January 27, 2022,... READ MORE

Facing further confusion from skilled nursing facilities and families amidst the current spike in COVID cases in the United States, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) released additional best practices and addressed more issues that skilled nursing providers should follow as they encounter certain visitation scenarios. On January 6, 2022, CMS updated... READ MORE

Note: This article has been revised to include information on the Group 2 states and Texas as of January 25, 2022. Nursing homes face possible citations, civil monetary penalties, denial of payments and—as a final measure—termination of participation from the Medicare and Medicaid programs by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) as... READ MORE

In an effort to clear the fog created by its recent skilled nursing facility guidance for visitation, CMS released a list of best practices and key aspects of visitation that skilled nursing providers should follow as they encounter certain scenarios. On December 23, 2021, CMS released several questions and answers in “Nursing Home Visitation... READ MORE

With just 10 words, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) announced sweeping changes to nursing home visitation rules – “Visitation is now allowed for all residents at all times.” On November 12, 2021, the Quality, Safety & Oversight Group at CMS issued a revised memorandum entitled “Nursing Home Visitation” (“CMS Visitation Memo”) that announced... READ MORE

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) wants surveyors to add extra attention and increase oversight in nursing homes regarding the quality of care and quality of life for residents. On November 12, 2021, the Quality, Safety & Oversight Group at CMS issued a memorandum entitled “Changes to COVID-19 Survey Activities and Increased Oversight in... READ MORE

On April 8, 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued a proposed rule that would update Medicare payment policies and rates for skilled nursing facilities under the Skilled Nursing Facility (“SNF”) prospective payment system (“PPS”) for fiscal year (“FY”) 2022 (the “Proposed Rule”). In addition, the Proposed Rule includes proposals for... READ MORE

Reimbursement under the new Patient Driven Payment Model, staff background checks, infection control programs, facility-initiated transfer or discharge of a resident and the use of psychotropic drugs are several new skilled nursing facility (“SNF”) areas of audit and focus of Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (“OIG”). OIG publishes updates... READ MORE