For many years, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) has reported that the Medicare program overpays skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) for rehabilitation services and underpays SNFs for certain residents needing specialized services and … [Read more...] about CMS Reins in Overpayments to Skilled Nursing Facilities
Skilled Nursing Facility
Extended Observation Stays in Acute Care Hospitals: Criticism, Legislation and Discussion
"Observation" is the term used to describe the outpatient status of a patient who is in a hospital, but not as an inpatient. Although the Medicare Manuals limit observation to 24-48 hours, many beneficiaries nationwide are experiencing extended stays … [Read more...] about Extended Observation Stays in Acute Care Hospitals: Criticism, Legislation and Discussion
Preventable Emergency Department Visits by Nursing Home Residents
One of the goals of health care reform is the reduction of unnecessary hospital readmissions of patients.[1] The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports in 2010 that, in 2004, 8% of nursing home residents nationwide – 123,600 … [Read more...] about Preventable Emergency Department Visits by Nursing Home Residents
Center for Medicare Advocacy Commends CMS for Proposing resident-Centered Nursing Home Regulations
July 14, 2010 For Immediate Release Contact: Toby Edelman (202) 293-5760 tedelman@medicareadvocacy.org In its first set of regulations implementing the nursing home provisions of the new Health Care Reform law, the Centers for Medicare & … [Read more...] about Center for Medicare Advocacy Commends CMS for Proposing resident-Centered Nursing Home Regulations
Health Reform: The Nursing Home Provisions
This is the sixth in a series of Alerts by Center for Medicare Advocacy regarding Patient Protection and Affordability Care Act of 2010 (PPACA) and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (HCERA). This Alert focuses on provisions … [Read more...] about Health Reform: The Nursing Home Provisions
New GAO Report Demonstrates Need for Stronger Enforcement of Nursing Home Quality Standards: Health Reform Provisions Could Help
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA), the health care reform legislation enacted earlier this year, provides a new opportunity to strengthen and improve federal oversight mechanisms for nursing homes. Implementation of new … [Read more...] about New GAO Report Demonstrates Need for Stronger Enforcement of Nursing Home Quality Standards: Health Reform Provisions Could Help
Off-Label Drug Use Is Common and Hurts Nursing Home Residents
Introduction The three-year old, and still ongoing, investigation and criminal prosecution of former staff members of a California skilled nursing facility for improper use of antipsychotic drugs on residents raises issues that go far beyond the … [Read more...] about Off-Label Drug Use Is Common and Hurts Nursing Home Residents
Overcoming Barriers to Medicare Coverage of Skilled Nursing Facility Care
On March 10, 2010 NCCCNHR, The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, along with the Center for Medicare Advocacy hosted a web seminar on overcoming barriers to skilled nursing care, presented by Center Senior Policy Attorney Toby S. … [Read more...] about Overcoming Barriers to Medicare Coverage of Skilled Nursing Facility Care
Observation Services: What Can Beneficiaries and Advocates Do?
What are Observation Services? CMS Brochure Favorable Decisions What Should Beneficiaries and their Advocates Do? Continuing Work Being in a hospital bed in a … [Read more...] about Observation Services: What Can Beneficiaries and Advocates Do?
Nursing Home Residents’ Access to Physicians and Pain Medication
Whether federal law and policies are preventing nursing home residents from getting the pain medications they need has become a major concern. In May 2009, the Milwaukee Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) received a tip that … [Read more...] about Nursing Home Residents’ Access to Physicians and Pain Medication