Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2011 Section by Section Summary Sen. John F. Kerry & Sen. Olympia Snowe Section 1: Short Title—"Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2011". Section 2: Counting … [Read more...] about Senators Kerry and Snowe, with Representatives Courtney and Latham, Introduce Legislation to Ensure Skilled Care for Seniors
Skilled Nursing Facility
What Happens to Current Nursing Home Residents if the House Budget Resolution Becomes Law?
Under the proposed budget resolution passed by Republicans in the House of Representatives, nearly a million nursing home residents could immediately lose coverage for nursing home care. Further, all of the standards that govern nursing home … [Read more...] about What Happens to Current Nursing Home Residents if the House Budget Resolution Becomes Law?
Reducing Antipsychotic Drug Use in Nursing Homes: Save Residents’ Lives, Save Medicare Billions of Dollars
Many nursing home residents who do not have a diagnosis that supports their taking antipsychotic medications are nevertheless given antipsychotic drugs. These drugs are both dangerous to residents and extremely expensive for the Medicare … [Read more...] about Reducing Antipsychotic Drug Use in Nursing Homes: Save Residents’ Lives, Save Medicare Billions of Dollars
More Nurses in Nursing Homes Would Mean Fewer Patients Headed to Hospitals
Nursing home residents are frequently hospitalized. Residents who have recently been admitted from the hospital are frequently rehospitalized.[1] Many of these hospitalizations, which "can cause discomfort for residents, anxiety for … [Read more...] about More Nurses in Nursing Homes Would Mean Fewer Patients Headed to Hospitals
Concern over Skilled Nursing Facilities’ Upcoding Medicare Reimbursement Should Not Be Allowed to Deprive Residents of Necessary Care
Between 2006 and 2008, skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) increasingly billed for residents' care at higher-paying reimbursement categories (upcoding) under Medicare's prospective payment system. Medicare uses Resource Utilization Groups … [Read more...] about Concern over Skilled Nursing Facilities’ Upcoding Medicare Reimbursement Should Not Be Allowed to Deprive Residents of Necessary Care
Judge Rejects “Eden Alternative” Defense In Nursing Home Appeal
The nursing home industry has called for major changes in the federal survey process by which federal and state survey agencies determine whether facilities are complying with federal standards of care and providing residents with high quality of … [Read more...] about Judge Rejects “Eden Alternative” Defense In Nursing Home Appeal
CMS Reins in Overpayments to Skilled Nursing Facilities
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
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, 2010For Immediate Release Contact: Toby Edelman (202) 293-5760 tedelman@medicareadvocacy.orgIn 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