Last week, the Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) published a report[1] of its study on the growth in hospice utilization and reimbursement since 2005. The Report summarizes key vulnerabilities in the Medicare hospice program … [Read more...] about Inspector General Reports Concerns About Medicare Hospice Care
Weekly Alert
Nursing Facilities’ “Quality Measures” Do Not Reflect Actual Quality of Care Provided to Residents
The Center for Medicare Advocacy wanted to determine whether nursing facilities that had one-star in their health survey ratings on Nursing Home Compare were able to boost their overall ratings from one star to two stars through the designation of … [Read more...] about Nursing Facilities’ “Quality Measures” Do Not Reflect Actual Quality of Care Provided to Residents
Center for Medicare Advocacy Co-Authors Case Study Journal Article on Nurse Staffing Litigation in Arkansas
Charlene Harrington, professor emerita at the University of California San Francisco, and Center for Medicare Advocacy Senior Policy Attorney Toby S. Edelman have written an analysis of the class action lawsuit against twelve Golden Living nursing … [Read more...] about Center for Medicare Advocacy Co-Authors Case Study Journal Article on Nurse Staffing Litigation in Arkansas
New Medicare Cards: Wave Four Distribution Begins
Last week, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a notice that beneficiaries in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont will begin receiving new Medicare cards. The agency … [Read more...] about New Medicare Cards: Wave Four Distribution Begins
Special Report – Special Focus Facilities: Poor Care for Residents, Limited Consequences for Providers
The Center for Medicare Advocacy issues this Special Report to shine a light on nursing homes throughout the country that have been identified as providing the poorest quality care to residents – while facing limited, if any, enforcement action … [Read more...] about Special Report – Special Focus Facilities: Poor Care for Residents, Limited Consequences for Providers
Dual Eligibles and Access to Part D Drugs: Pretty Good News from the OIG
The Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services released a report recently regarding Part D coverage of prescription drugs used by people dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. The June report, Part D Plans … [Read more...] about Dual Eligibles and Access to Part D Drugs: Pretty Good News from the OIG
Health Care Sabotage: Poll Shows Voters are Watching
This week, the Kaiser Family Foundation released a poll showing that 56% of Americans believe that the Administration is “trying to make the ACA fail.” The polling also shows that by nearly seven to one, people think this is a negative … [Read more...] about Health Care Sabotage: Poll Shows Voters are Watching
Medigap News: Disparities in Enrollment Rights; Bill Introduced to Strengthen Medigap Access and Protections
Kaiser Family Foundation ReportA report recently issued by the Kaiser Family Foundation, “Medigap Enrollment and Consumer Protections Vary Across States” (July 2018), “provides an overview of Medigap enrollment and analyzes … [Read more...] about Medigap News: Disparities in Enrollment Rights; Bill Introduced to Strengthen Medigap Access and Protections
Nursing Home “In-House” Managed Care Plans May Harm Residents
An emerging issue of concern for advocates is nursing facilities’ increased marketing of “in-house” managed care plans – specifically, Institutional Special Needs Plans, or I-SNPs – to their residents.[1] These … [Read more...] about Nursing Home “In-House” Managed Care Plans May Harm Residents
Now Can We Call it Sabotage?
In a previous CMA Alert we highlighted a statement reportedly made by CMS Administrator Seema Verma that she took “exception to those out there who have made claims that we have tried to sabotage the health care of the American people, … [Read more...] about Now Can We Call it Sabotage?