According to the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG), nursing facilities were not prepared for the pandemic and could not “stem the devastation once it was evident that nursing homes were especially vulnerable.” In “More than a Thousand Nursing … [Read more...] about HHS Office of Inspector General: Nursing Home COVID-19 Underscores Need for Better Staffing and Improved Surveys
Archives for January 2023
Critical Provisions of Medicare Drug Bill Already Taking Effect
As discussed in a recent CMA Alert (Dec. 8, 2022), provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) have begun to take effect, and other provisions are soon to follow. However, these historic changes are already being threatened by the pharmaceutical … [Read more...] about Critical Provisions of Medicare Drug Bill Already Taking Effect
CMS Improves Public Reporting of Nursing Home Information
As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s implementation of its comprehensive nursing home reform agenda, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced new surveyor guidance, making two significant changes to its quality rating … [Read more...] about CMS Improves Public Reporting of Nursing Home Information
Equity Impacts of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Cost-Sharing
A new study published in Health Affairs shows that cost-sharing parity for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders (MHSUD) was associated with an increased receipt of outpatient MHSUD treatment among white beneficiaries but increased less among … [Read more...] about Equity Impacts of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Cost-Sharing
Gaps in Hospice Abuse and Neglect Reporting
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently reviewed requirements for reporting abuse and neglect allegations to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). GAO concluded gaps existed in requirements for hospices as compared … [Read more...] about Gaps in Hospice Abuse and Neglect Reporting
Conviction of Florida Nursing Home Operator Affirmed
In July 2016, the federal government indicted Philip Esformes, owner and operator of the Esformes Network, including nursing facilities in Florida. He and two others have been criminally charged in a one-billion-dollar Medicare fraud and money … [Read more...] about Conviction of Florida Nursing Home Operator Affirmed
Medicare Enrollment Numbers
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the latest enrollment figures for Medicare on January 5th. As of September 2022, 65,103,807 people are enrolled in Medicare, an increase of 160,823 since the last report. Of … [Read more...] about Medicare Enrollment Numbers
Elder Justice “No Harm” Newsletter | Volume 4, Issue 6 Now Available
In the Elder Justice Newsletter, we highlight citations, including deficiencies related to abuse, neglect, and substandard care, that have been identified as not causing any resident harm. The goal of this brief newsletter is to shed light on … [Read more...] about Elder Justice “No Harm” Newsletter | Volume 4, Issue 6 Now Available
Medicare Provisions in Year-End Spending Bill
The Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), 2023 (H.R. 2617, now Public Law 117-328), which funds federal government operations for the 2023 fiscal year, was signed into law by President Biden on December 29, 2022. The CAA contains a number of … [Read more...] about Medicare Provisions in Year-End Spending Bill
Vaccinated Staff Equals Fewer Nursing Home Deaths – Require Boosters
A new study documents that vaccinations of nursing home staff resulted in fewer COVID-19 cases and deaths among residents and fewer COVID-19 cases among staff in the early part of the coronavirus pandemic. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid … [Read more...] about Vaccinated Staff Equals Fewer Nursing Home Deaths – Require Boosters