LeadingAge Minnesota

CMS Launches Efforts to Improve Patient Safety, Quality of Care in Nursing Homes

On November 28, 2018 by Julie Apold

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has launched efforts to improve patient safety and quality of care in nursing homes. The Civil Money Penalty Reinvestment Program offers tools, resources and ongoing assistance to nursing home staff.   

Rep. Price, Seema Verma Nominated to Lead HHS, CMS

On November 30, 2016 by Jodi Boyne

President-elect Donald Trump this week announced he will nominate U.S. Representative Tom Price (R-Georgia) to be the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Seema Verma, President, CEO and Founder of national health policy consulting company SVC Inc., will be nominated to be Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 

CMS Releases Annual SNF Prospective Payment System Rule

On April 27, 2016 by Jeff Bostic

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) last week released the proposed rule on the Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (PPS). In addition to details about the rates effective on Oct. 1, the rule also covers information related to the Value Based Payment system and the development of quality measures under the IMPACT Act.

Member Feedback Needed on Nursing Facility Rule Changes

On July 29, 2015 by Darrell Shreve

The nursing facility rule changes proposed by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will affect all certified nursing facilities for years to come. It is imperative to submit comments and concerns regarding the sweeping reforms in regulations as part of the 60-day comment period that closes on Monday, Sept. 14.

Extensive QAPI Expectations Focus of Proposed CMS Rule Changes

On July 29, 2015 by Elizabeth Sether, RN, MHA, LNHA

The long-awaited regulations for Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) are included in the proposed Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Reform of Requirements for Long Term Care Facilities released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) two weeks ago.

CMS Releases Additional Guidance on HCBS Settings Rule

On July 8, 2015 by Mary Youle

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released additional guidance related to implementation of its Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Settings Rule, including new information that will be of particular interest to adult day providers.

Nonprofit Nursing Homes Earn Higher 5-Star Ratings

On May 27, 2015 by Jennifer Mims

On May 27, 2015 by Evvie Munley, Senior Health Policy Analyst, LeadingAge

Nonprofit nursing homes tend to earn higher ratings on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Nursing Home 5-Star Rating System than their for-profit counterparts, according to a recent report by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

CMS Proposes Major Changes for Medicare Hospice

On May 13, 2015 by Mary Youle

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a proposed FY 206 Medicare Hospice rule that would increase FY2016 payments by an estimated 1.3 percent and create a Service Intensity Add-On (SIA) Payment for the last seven days of life among other changes.

Deadline for HCBS Self-Assessments Approaching

On May 6, 2015 by Mary Youle

Customized Living and Residential Care providers must submit their online self-assessments for compliance with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) settings rule by Thursday, May 15. Because of delays in distributing the surveys to some providers, Adult Foster Care/Supporting Living Services, Adult Day Services/Structured Day Program and DT&H/Pre-Vocational providers must submit their surveys by Friday, May 29.

CMS Touts Successes of QIOs and Care Centers

On April 14, 2015 by Darrell Shreve

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) last week issued a progress report on the Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) program highlighting significant reductions in several areas that QIOs and care centers have jointly addressed.

CMS Creates Next Generation ACO Model

On March 18, 2015 by Darrell Shreve

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center last week announced the Next Generation Accountable Care Organization (ACO) model, which will take on greater performance risk than ACOs in current models while also potentially sharing in a greater portion of savings.

OIG: Pay Critical Access Hospitals the SNF Rate for Swing Beds

On March 18, 2015 by Darrell Shreve

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is recommending the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) pursue legislation to pay critical access hospitals the Medicare Skilled Nursing Facility rate for patients in swing beds. The recommendation comes on the heels of a report that shows Medicare could have saved billions of dollars at critical access hospitals if swing bed services were reimbursed using the skilled nursing rate.

OIG Recommends Scrutiny of Hospice Care in Assisted Living

On February 25, 2015 by Mary Youle

Hospices have financial incentives to target Medicare beneficiaries living in assisted living settings who have certain diagnoses and are likely to have long stays, according to a recent report from the Office of Inspector General (OIG).

OIG Recommends Further Scrutiny of Hospice Care in Assisted Living

On February 18, 2015 by Mary Youle

Hospices have financial incentives to target Medicare beneficiaries living in assisted living settings who have certain diagnoses and are likely to have long stays, according to a recent report from the Office of Inspector General (OIG).

CMS Withdraws Physician Narrative Requirement, Faces Lawsuit Over Retroactive Effect

On January 14, 2015 by Mary Youle

The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) reports that the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has held that it has the power to hear a challenge to the validity of the Medicare face-to-face rule that requires physicians to provide a narrative explaining why the patient meets Medicare coverage standards for home health services. The court issued an order denying Medicare's effort to have the NAHC lawsuit dismissed by the court.